Botswana National Cricket Team Guide
The Botswana national cricket team, nicknamed the Baggy Blues, are governed by the Botswana Cricket Association and an associate member of the ICC. Like many other international cricket teams from Africa, Botswana have been showcasing their cricketing developments in recent times.
History of Botswana National Cricket Team
Cricket in Botswana was originally introduced by expatriates from India and South Africa, with it becoming a rising sport in the country going into the 21st century. The Botswana cricket team became an ICC affiliate in 2001 and 4 years later became an associate member.
Where Does The Botswana National Cricket Team Play?
The Botswana national cricket team has two main venues which host visiting international cricket teams. These include The BCA ground in Gaborone and the Lobatse Cricket ground, both of which are towards the country’s southern border.
Top Run Scorers In Botswana National Cricket Team History
Right-hand batter and occasional wicket keeper Karabo Motlhanka was the first player to reach the 800-run mark for the Botswana cricket team in T20I cricket. Vinoo Balakrishnan is another notable player for his nation in this format, being the first to record a century of runs.
Top Wicket Takers In Botswana National Cricket Team History
Dhruvkumar Maisuria can be regarded as one of the most prolific bowlers for the Botswana national cricket team, with him being the first to take over 60 wickets after making his debut in 2019. He is also the first player in his country to record a 5-wicket game in a T20 International.
Memorable Games For The Botswana National Cricket Team
The 2001 Africa Cup was a memorable first tournament for the Botswana national cricket team, with them travelling to Zambia for this competition. The first-round matches were all victories, beating teams like the host nation Zambia and the Zimbabwe cricket team. In the semi-finals, they took down the Kenyans, progressing to the final, where they ultimately lost to the South Africa national cricket team.
Winning the toss and fielding first, the Botswana cricket team faced off against the Uganda cricket team in May 2019 after gaining T20I status the year prior like with all other ICC associates. Karabo Modise managed to take 3 of Botswana’s 7 wickets, with Uganda managing 142 runs from 20 overs. In response, Botswana aimed to chase down this feasible target; however, batters struggled to get into the game, with Vinoo Balakrishnan only taking 26 runs from 32 balls. Although this was a loss for the Botswana national cricket team, it was still a milestone for the nation.
Rivals Of The Botswana National Cricket Team
The Botswana cricket team primarily plays against other African nations; however, none are necessarily considered rivals. Despite this, the Namibia cricket team and the Kenya cricket team have both had strong matchups against Botswana.
