Cricket: ICC to visit Nigeria ahead World Cup Qualifiers

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William Glenwright, International Cricket Council’s (ICC) General Manager (Development), is scheduled to visit Nigeria on a tree-day working visit ahead of the U-19 World Cup Division 2 Qualifiers in Abuja.

A statement by Emeka Igwilo, General Manager, Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), said Glenwright will inspect facilities in Lagos, Edo and Abuja from Sunday to Wednesday.

The visit according to Igwilo comes ahead of the ICC men’s cricket World Cup Africa division 2 qualifier taking place in Abuja from Sept.30 to Oct. 9.

He said cricket has improved in Nigeria, with the country winning two development awards in the last three years.

Igwilo said the visit would further cement the federation’s developmental efforts in the sport.

“We hope to also leverage on his coming to showcase and drive our plans deeper with various stakeholders.

“Nigeria also plays a strategic role in terms of supporting the growth of the game amongst other countries, in this part of the continent.

“We are involved in some facility developments in Ghana, where our ground men are supporting the Ghana Cricket Federation to upgrade their cricket pitches to meet international standard.

“Ghana will be the host of the All-Africa Games in 2023 and Cricket will be featuring for the first time, so we have to offer our expertise in that regard,“he said.

According to reports, Rwanda, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana, Ghana and Nigeria will participate in the Qualifiers.

Reports also has it that Nigeria won the Female Initiative of the Year for Africa in 2021 and the ICC Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative Award in 2022. (NAN)