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Rwanda Cricket Stadium

Coordinates: 2°01′46″S 30°06′26″E / 2.02944°S 30.10722°E / -2.02944; 30.10722
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Gahanga International Cricket Stadium
"Kicukiro Oval" "Rwanda Cricket Stadium"
An aerial photo of the Gahanga Cricket Stadium
Ground information
LocationKigali City, Rwanda
Coordinates2°01′46″S 30°06′26″E / 2.02944°S 30.10722°E / -2.02944; 30.10722
Capacity5,000-10,000
OwnerGovernment of Rwanda
OperatorRwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation
TenantsRwanda national cricket team
End names
Pavilion End
Plantation End
International information
First T20I18 August 2021:
 Rwanda v  Ghana
Last T20I31 August 2023:
 Rwanda v  Tanzania
First WT20I18 June 2019:
 Tanzania v  Uganda
Last WT20I8 June 2024:
 Botswana v  Kenya
As of 8 June 2024
Source: ESPNcricinfo
Gahanga B Ground
Ground information
LocationKigali City, Rwanda
OwnerGovernment of Rwanda
OperatorRwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation
TenantsRwanda national cricket team
International information
First WT20I31 May 2024:
 Nigeria v  Uganda
Last WT20I8 June 2024:
 Rwanda v  Nigeria
As of 8 June 2024
Source: ESPNcricinfo


Rwanda Cricket Stadium, also known as Kicukiro Oval, is a cricket ground in Kigali, Rwanda. The stadium is officially titled the Gahanga International Cricket Stadium.[1][2] The ground is Rwanda's first dedicated international cricket ground and has quickly became a prominent ground in African cricket.

cricket stadium in Rwanda

History

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In August 2011, the Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation was formed as a charity, run on a not for profit basis, with the aim of building and managing the first ever dedicated international cricket ground in Rwanda. The ground was completed in March 2017.[3] It is located on a 4.5-hectare (11-acre) site on the edge of Kigali, Rwanda's capital.[4][5][6][7]

The charity is run by a team of cricket enthusiasts from the UK and Rwanda in partnership with the Marylebone Cricket Club Foundation.

In 2012, West Indian cricketing great Brian Lara[8] agreed to become one of the ground's patrons. The stadium is also supported by former British Prime Minister David Cameron, Andrew Mitchell, Jonathan Agnew, Heather Knight, Peter Gummer, Baron Chadlington[9][10]

In 2016, Rwanda captain Eric Dusingizimana achieved a Guinness World Record for batting 51 continuous hours at Amaharo Stadium in Remera. This was done to raise funds for the construction of the ground.[11]

Once opened, the ground quickly gained prominence in African cricket and hosted various ICC events. In 2018, the ground was selected to host the matches in the 2018–19 ICC World Twenty20 Africa Qualifier Eastern Sub-Region group.[5][6][7] Once all associate members were given T20I status in 2019, the ground hosted its first T20I on 18 August 2021.[12][13]

The stadium also hosted the 2019 Kwibuka Women's T20 Tournament,[14] a women's cricket tournament, in remembrance of the victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.[15] Their successful hosting of multi-national tournaments during peak COVID-19 pandemic following the safety protocols had led to being given more tournaments subsequently.

In November 2022, the ground surpassed the Harare Sports Club as the cricket oval to host the most T20I matches in Africa.[16]

Notable Events

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The following notable events were hosted here with ICC International Status:

Bilateral Series

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International record

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Twenty20 International centuries

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Five T20I centuries have been scored at the venue.[17]

No. Score Player Team Balls Opposing team Innings Date Result
1 100* Orchide Tuyisenge  Rwanda 60  Seychelles 1 19 October 2021 Won
2 104 Francisco Couana  Mozambique 51  Cameroon 1 3 November 2021 Won
3 100 Vinoo Balakrishnan  Botswana 70  Saint Helena 1 25 November 2022 Won
4 107* Obed Harvey  Ghana 54  Gambia 1 8 December 2022 Won
5 100* Simon Ssesazi  Uganda 58  Tanzania 1 22 December 2022 Won

Twenty20 International five-wicket hauls

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Six 20I five-wicket haul has been taken at this venue.[18]

# Figures Player Country Innings Opponent Date Result
1 5/23 Samson Awiah  Ghana 1  Rwanda 16 October 2021 Won
2 5/9 Kofi Bagabena  Ghana 1  Seychelles 16 October 2021 Won
3 5/26 Rexford Bakum  Ghana 2  Lesotho 17 October 2021 Won
4 5/19 Francisco Couana  Mozambique 2  Cameroon 3 November 2021 Won
5 5/9 Sylvester Okpe  Nigeria 1  Cameroon 5 December 2022 Won
6 5/29 Richmond Baaleri  Ghana 2  Gambia 8 December 2022 Won

Women's Twenty20 International centuries

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Five WT20I centuries have been scored at the venue.[19]

No. Score Player Team Balls Opposing team Innings Date Result
1 116 Prosscovia Alako  Uganda 71  Mali 1 20 June 2019 Won
2 103* Rita Musamali  Uganda 61  Mali 1 20 June 2019 Won
3 114* Marie Bimenyimana  Rwanda 81  Mali 1 21 June 2019 Won
4 108* Fatuma Kibasu  Tanzania 71  Mali 1 22 June 2019 Won
5 100 Prosscovia Alako  Uganda 63  Cameroon 1 7 June 2024 Won

Women's Twenty20 International five-wicket hauls

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Five WT20I five-wicket haul has been taken at this venue.[20]

# Figures Player Country Innings Opponent Date Result
1 5/0 Nasra Saidi  Tanzania 2  Mali 22 June 2019 Won
2 5/12 Sarah Wetoto  Kenya 1  Botswana 7 June 2021 Won
3 6/16 Sarah Wetoto  Kenya 1  Namibia 12 June 2021 Won
4 6/7 Lillian Udeh  Nigeria 2  Rwanda 4 June 2024 Won
5 5/17 Henriette Ishimwe  Rwanda 1  Uganda 5 June 2024 Lost

References

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  1. ^ "Thousands to grace Gahanga Cricket Stadium inauguration". The New Times. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Rwanda To Host EAC 2018 World Cricket Qualifiers". KT Press. 15 December 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  3. ^ Gardner, Alan (4 April 2014). "The cricket ground that was a killing field". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Cricket stadium to rise in shadow of Rwandan massacre". The Guardian. 15 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Welcome to Rwanda, where a new cricket ground is front-page news as part of a growing following for the sport and its power for good". The Independent. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Rwanda: Gahanga International Cricket Stadium Launched Today". All Africa. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Kigali welcomes East Africa for ICC World T20 Africa B Qualifier". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  8. ^ "UNIVERSITY CRICKET at OXFORD". Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  9. ^ "MCC". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  10. ^ Hoult, Nick (18 February 2016). "Field of dreams". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Eric Dusingizimana breaks world cricket batting record". Hiru News. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  12. ^ "All T20 matches between ICC members to get international status". www.icc-cricket.com. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  13. ^ "Full Scorecard of Ghana vs Rwanda 1st T20I 2021 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  14. ^ "Women's Cricket team to face Mali in T20 opener". The New Times. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  15. ^ "Five countries set for cricket memorial tournament". The New Times. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  16. ^ "Records | Twenty20 Internationals | Team records | Most matches on a single ground | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  17. ^ "Batting records | Twenty20 Internationals | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Bowling records | Twenty20 Internationals | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  19. ^ "Statistics / Statsguru / Women's Twenty20 Internationals / Batting records". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  20. ^ "Statistics / Statsguru / Women's Twenty20 Internationals / Bowling records". Retrieved 23 June 2019.
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