# East African cricket team in England in 1972

A cricket team representing the East African countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda toured England in the 1972 season as part of a drive to encourage the development of cricket in that part of Africa.
The 1972 touring team played 18 matches. Their opponents included the Marylebone Cricket Club and many first-class county teams, although none of the matches had first-class status. The tour helped East Africa to be invited to participate at the 1975 Cricket World Cup where they achieved temporary One Day International status.

## Team

| Player | Year of Birth | Batting style | Bowling style | National team |
| Jawahir Shah (c) | 1942 | Right hand | – | Kenya |
| Zulfiqar Ali | 1947 | Right hand | Right arm medium | Kenya |
| Lawrence Fernandes | 1945 | Right hand | Leg break googly | Uganda |
| Duncan Kibaya | 1949 | Right hand | Right-arm off-break | Uganda |
| Anil Lakhani | 1938 | Unknown | Unknown | Kenya |
| Praful Mehta | 1941 | Left hand | Wicket-keeper | Tanzania |
| Raghuvir Patel | 1944 | Unknown | Wicket-keeper | Kenya |
| Upendra Patel | 1942 | Right hand | Right arm fast-medium | Uganda |
| Mehmood Quaraishy | 1942 | Right hand | – | Kenya |
| Harilal Shah | 1943 | Right hand | Right arm medium | Kenya |
| Jagoo Shah | 1953 | Unknown | Leg-break and googly | Kenya |
| Narendra Thakker | 1945 | Right hand | Wicket-keeper | Kenya |
| Charanjive Sharma | 1946 | Unknown | Unknown | Kenya |
| Vasant Tapu | 1936 | Left hand | Left arm fast-medium | Tanzania |
| Kishore Vasani | 1939 | Unknown | Slow left-arm orthodox | Uganda |
| Samuel Walusimbi | 1948 | Right hand | Left arm medium | Uganda |

## Tour matches

The following matches were played during the tour:
* 5 June 1972
* County Cricket Ground, Hove
* 7 June 1972
* The Oval, London
* 9 June 1972
* Lloyds Bank Sports Ground, Beckenham
* 10 June 1972
* Indian Gymkhana Cricket Club Ground, Osterley
* 12-13 June 1972 Scorecard
* Match drawn New Malden Cricket Club Ground Umpires: A.J. Fairs, J.H. Norton
* Toss not known
* 14 June 1972 Scorecard
* Match drawn Edgbaston, Birmingham
* Toss not known
* No play was possible on the second day
* 17 June 1972
* Lord's, London
* 18 June 1972 Scorecard
* East Africa won by 4 wickets FP Fenner's Ground, Cambridge Umpires: N.P. Knight and Ernest Basil Wye
* Cambridge University won the toss and decided to bat
* 21 June 1972
* New Road, Worcester
* 24 June 1972
* County Ground, Southampton
* 29 June 1972 Scorecard
| Leicestershire 211/6 (50 overs) | v | East Africa 198 (46.4 overs) |
| Jeffrey Tolchard 75 Vasant Tapu 2/12 (10 overs) | | Charanjive Sharma 82 Robin Matthews 4/36 (9.4 overs) |
* Leicestershire won by 13 runs Dog and Gun, Blaby Umpires: W.E. Hickling, R. Julian
* Toss not known
* 3 July 1972 Scorecard
| East Africa 176/4d | v | Olton 159/7 |
| Vasant Tapu 52* Ken Stanley 3/55 | | Mike Ellis 60 Vasant Tapu 2/22 |
* Match drawn Grange Road, Olton
* East Africa won the toss and decided to bat
* 4 July 1972
* Bulls Head Ground, Coventry
* 5 July 1972
* Trent Bridge, Nottingham
* 6-7 July 1972 Scorecard
* Match drawn County Cricket Ground, Derby Umpires: B.O. Meakin, L.A. Simpson
* East Africa won the toss and decided to field
* 8-9 July 1972 Scorecard
* East Africa won by 6 wickets Penrhyn Avenue, Colwyn Bay Umpires: F. Carnall, R. Griffiths
* North Wales won the toss and decided to bat
* 10-11 July 1972 Scorecard
* Match drawn Alexandra Meadows, Blackburn Umpires: M. Ditchfield, D.L. Thomas
* Lancashire Second XI won the toss and decided to bat
* 13 July 1972
* County Ground, Taunton
* 15-18 July 1972 Scorecard
* Warwickshire won by 286 runs Edgbaston, Birmingham Umpires: D.G.L. Evans, C.G. Pepper
* Warwickshire won the toss and decided to bat

## Leading players

Kenyan Charanjive Sharma was the most consistent batsman, scoring 725 runs in 24 innings. Harilal Shah scored 680 runs in 23 innings and took 22 wickets in 159 overs. Zulfiqar Ahmed took 49 wickets for 308 runs. Jawahir Shah played several good innings and captained the side well.