Tanzanians seek place in World Cup qualifiersBy SULEIMAN JONGO | Wednesday, May 23  2012 at  10:15

Tanzania's national cricket team plans to step up its preparations for the forthcoming international competitions with a training camp next month, it has been revealed.

The team will camp at a place to be named later, according to the Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) Chief Executive Officer, Zulfikar Rehemtullah.

In an interview with The Citizen on Tuesday, Rehemtullah said the team will play at least three high-profile friendlies before competing in this year’s ICC Africa World League T20 Division 2 in August.

“We have sent faxes to a number of teams asking them to play friendly matches against our national team,” said Rehemtullah. He fell short of naming them.

“If all goes well, our team will play not less than three international friendly matches ahead of the ICC Africa World League T20 Division to be held in Benoni, South Africa in August,” the TCA boss added.

The national team will also take in the Africa Cricket Association (ACA) and ICC World League Division 4, which serves as a qualifying event for World Cup qualifiers.

Kassim Nassoro, one of the national team’s key players, said he and his teammates were in great shape, looking forward to making their presence felt in what promises to be gruelling competitions ahead of them.

"We know that we’ll be up against some of the best teams in Africa, but I am optimistic we will give Tanzanians something to smile about this time around,” he said.

Khalil Rehemtullah, one of the overseas-based players, had similar views, adding that they have what it takes to book a place in the World Cup qualifiers.
“We’ll not afford to disappoint Tanzanians again,” he insisted.

In last year’s ICC Africa World League T20 Division, the national team narrowly missed a ticket to the World Cup qualifiers.