# Rwanda national cricket team

The Rwandan national cricket team is the team that represents Rwanda in international cricket. They became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2003 and an associate member in 2017.

## History
### 2000-2008

2004 marked the genesis of Rwanda national team's participation in regional and international tournaments, their very first being the African Affiliates Championship in 2004, where they finished seventh in South Africa. In 2006 they competed in Division Three of the African region of the World Cricket League, improving their performance and finishing in sixth. They remained in Division Three in 2008.
In 2008, they participated in the ICC World Cricket League Africa Region Division Three hosted by South Africa and reached semi finals.

### 2009-2015

In 2009, the national team participated in the African Cricket World Cup qualifiers in Malawi and in the ICC Africa Twenty20 Division Three in 2011 hosted by Ghana and emerged as the winners against Seychelles.

### 2015-2020

In 2016, captain Eric Dusingizimana set a world record for the longest individual net session in an attempt to raise funds for the construction of a new cricket stadium.
In 2017, they became an associate member of the ICC.
In April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Rwanda and other ICC members since 1 January 2019 have the T20I status.
In March 2018 the Rwanda Cricket Association named former Kenyan international Martin Suji as head coach on an initial four-month contract, encompassing the 2018–19 ICC World Twenty20 Africa Qualifier Eastern Subregion tournament.
* 18 August 2021 09:30 Scorecard
| Ghana 164/5 (20 overs) | v | Rwanda 165/9 (19.4 overs) |
| Amoluk Singh 58 (40) Zappy Bimenyimana 2/32 (4 overs) | | Martin Akayezu 51 (19) Godfred Bakiweyem 3/28 (3.4 overs) |
* Rwanda won by 1 wicket Gahanga International Cricket Stadium, Kigali Player of the match: Martin Akayezu (Rwa)
* Ghana won the toss and elected to bat.
* First T20I match for Rwanda.

## Gallery

* Rwanda national cricket team players

## Grounds

Gahanga International Cricket Stadium and Kicukiro Oval located in IPRC Kigali former ETO Kicukiro are the main cricket grounds in Kigali. In August 2011, Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation was formed to build and manage, on a not-for-profit basis, the first dedicated international cricket ground in Rwanda. It is located on a 4.5-hectare site on the edge of Kigali, Rwanda's capital.
The charity is run by a team of cricket enthusiasts from the UK Christopher Shale and Rwanda in partnership with the Marylebone Cricket Club Foundation. The ground was expected to be completed in 2014.
The construction of Rwanda's first dedicated cricket ground will provide a permanent home for the sport, helping its development and increasing opportunity for thousands of disadvantaged young people.
In 2012, Brian Lara agreed to become one of the patrons. The stadium is also supported by former British Prime Minister David Cameron, Andrew Mitchell, Jonathan Agnew, Heather Knight, Peter Gummer, Baron Chadlington

### Facilities

* An international-standard cricket ground (one Astroturf wicket; several grass wickets)
* Pavilion (with restaurant, bar and conference facilities)
* Six cricket nets
* Modest spectator seating
* Car parking (c. 80 spaces)
* Soft (green) landscaping

## Current squad

This lists all the players who have played for Rwanda in the past 12 months or has been part of the latest T20I squad. Updated as of 24 October 2024.
| Name | Age | Batting style | Bowling style | Notes |
| Batters |||||
| Oscar Manishimwe | 22 | Right-handed | | |
| Hamza Khan | 27 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | |
| Orchide Tuyisenge | 24 | Right-handed | | |
| Wilson Niyitanga | 23 | Right-handed | | |
| Daniel Gumyusenge | 21 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Isae Niyomugabe | 21 | Right-handed | | |
| All-rounders |||||
| Clinton Rubagumya | 29 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | Captain |
| Yves Cyusa | 18 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | |
| Wicket-keeper |||||
| Didier Ndikubwimana | 21 | Right-handed | | Vice-captain |
| Spin Bowlers |||||
| Muhammad Nadir | 26 | Left-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | |
| Emmanuel Sebareme | 29 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | |
| Emile Rukiriza | 21 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | |
| Kevin Irakoze | 24 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | |
| Israel Mugisha | 19 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | |
| Pace Bowlers |||||
| Zappy Bimenyimana | 36 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Martin Akayezu | 22 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Ignace Ntirenganya | 22 | Right-handed | Left-arm medium | |
| Eric Kubwimana | 22 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |

## Records and statistics

International Match Summary — Rwanda
Last updated 13 December 2024
Playing Record :
| Format | M | W | L | T | NR | Inaugural Match |
| Twenty20 Internationals | 101 | 29 | 69 | 1 | 2 | 18 August 2021 |

### Twenty20 International

* Highest team total: 196/4 v. Seychelles, 19 October 2021 at Gahanga International Cricket Stadium, Rwanda.
* Highest individual score: 100*, Orchide Tuyisenge v. Seychelles, 19 October 2021 at Gahanga International Cricket Stadium, Kigali.
* Best individual bowling figures: 5/11, Emile Rukiriza v. Malawi, 9 October 2024 at TCA Oval, Blantyre.
| Player | Runs | Average | Career span |
| Orchide Tuyisenge | 1,323 | 17.18 | 2021–2024 |
| Didier Ndikubwimana | 1,138 | 16.49 | 2021–2024 |
| Oscar Manishimwe | 1,096 | 18.89 | 2021–2024 |
| Eric Dusingizimana | 1,028 | 18.03 | 2021–2024 |
| Clinton Rubagumya | 726 | 13.69 | 2021–2024 |
| Player | Wickets | Average | Career span |
| Martin Akayezu | 88 | 20.88 | 2021–2024 |
| Zappy Bimenyimana | 80 | 22.81 | 2021–2024 |
| Kevin Irakoze | 74 | 19.13 | 2021–2024 |
| Emmanuel Sebareme | 62 | 17.16 | 2021–2024 |
| Clinton Rubagumya | 54 | 21.50 | 2021–2024 |
T20I record versus other nations
Records complete to T20I #3043. Last updated 13 December 2024.
| Opponent | M | W | L | T | NR | First match | First win |
| vs Full Members ||||||||
| Zimbabwe | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 27 November 2023 | |
| vs Associate Members ||||||||
| Botswana | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 17 November 2022 | 17 November 2022 |
| Eswatini | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 October 2021 | 22 October 2021 |
| Gambia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 December 2023 | 8 December 2023 |
| Ghana | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 18 August 2021 | 18 August 2021 |
| Kenya | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 20 November 2022 | |
| Lesotho | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 21 October 2021 | 21 October 2021 |
| Malawi | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 22 October 2021 | 21 November 2022 |
| Mali | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 November 2022 | 24 November 2022 |
| Mozambique | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 17 December 2023 | |
| Namibia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 25 November 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 8 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 4 October 2023 | 9 December 2024 |
| Saint Helena | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 November 2022 | 18 November 2022 |
| Seychelles | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 October 2021 | 19 October 2021 |
| Sierra Leone | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 October 2023 | 6 October 2023 |
| Tanzania | 18 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 31 October 2022 | 16 December 2022 |
| Uganda | 21 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 17 October 2021 | 11 December 2023 |

### Twenty20 World Cup Africa Qualifier Regional Final

Twenty20 World Cup Africa Qualifier record :
| Year | Round | Position | GP | W | L | T | NR |
| 2019 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2021 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2022–23 | Round-robin | 7/7 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| Total | 1/3 | – | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 |

### T20 World Cup Africa Sub-regional Qualifier

T20 World Cup Africa Sub-regional Qualifier record :
| Year | Round | Position | GP | W | L | T | NR |
| 2021 | Round-robin | 4/7 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | Round-robin | 2/8 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 | Round-robin | 4/6 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 3/3 | – | 18 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 1 |

### Other matches

For a list of selected international matches played by Rwanda, see Cricket Archive.