Known for a number of facts of both extremes in the scolding heat from the Namibia desert to the beautiful wildlife, the capital Windhoek will be the center of attraction for associate cricket as it hosts a financially definitive and career changing pathway to the prestigious ODI status sought by many but only achievable by a few. The World Cricket League Div 2 tournament should be the “super bowl” for cricket lovers in Namibia over the next 8 days from 8-15 February. The top 2 teams from this tournament will join the top associates and lowest ranked yes nations in the final World Cup ladder at the World Cup qualifiers to be hosted by Zimbabwe next month for a crack at the Holy grail World Cup in England next year.
International cricket is about runs and more runs with the odd bowler reminding the world how great bowling skills shouldn’t entirely be forgotten a thesis supported by my numerous cricket battles over the years in Windhoek. I expect this World cricket league to offer us nothing less than the three most obvious things in plenty of runs, wet onfield player towels and dry water bottles in a team battle for a top two finish and avoidance of the dreaded bottom two finish that comes with relegation to Div 3.
KENYA
The top ranked team in the tournament with a rich history of cricketing success largely right before and after the millennium change will come into this event yet again with a point to prove that they belong among the top associates. Unfortunately for our neighbors Kenya, pre tournament rankings count for little and Kenya will have to quickly reverse there recent performances last week to earn a return to Zimbabwe next month for World Cup qualifiers. Importantly to note, Kenya have been in this position before and have come through on top. The return of captain Rakep Patel from injury should beef up the batting alongside experienced Collins Obuya, Alex Obanda, Irfan Karim and Dhiren Ghondaria. Hired Varaiya will be a welcome addition to the bowling unit that will need spearhead Nehemiah Odhiambo to step up and be counted in this massive week for Kenyan cricket. Kenya have traditionally mastered the art of knowing how and when to win big games and they should atleast finish among the top 4 teams.
UAE
Cricket like many other sports is about momentum which the Dougie Brown coached outfit aren’t lacking after winning there last games in the world cricket championship and having a commendable outing in a recent Tri nations series against Scotland and Ireland. UAE will not be short of confidence coming into the tournament but they should should be wise to throw caution to the wind too much as they were previous winners of the last World cricket league Division 2 they played in Windhoek and have traditionally done well at this event. Rohan Mustapha will skipper a steady ship full of experience and talent especially with the bat and I reckon they should get to the final and stake a claim on top honors.
NEPAL
A nation filled with so much passion for cricket I wouldn’t have minded being born into. Limited in gigantic sporting size, they fully cover for that in heart as they wear their hearts on their sleeves on the field play for each other like bees build a formidable hive and I assure you, these guys do fortify there HIVE. Natural leader Paras Khadka has led this golden Nepali generation for sometime and here he is again tasked with the same duty to lead his nation to the promised land a task that won’t be easy in conditions that aren’t very spin bowling friendly as his attack is. Nepal’s greatest strength is there ability to chock the life out of any opposition the second they smell blood and this team has the resources in Paras Khadka, Gyanendra Malla, Sharad Vesawkar, Sompal Kami, Karan and spin trio of Gauchan, Basant and IPL Dare devil Sandeep Lamichhane with ability to spin a web around any batting unit. Jai Nepal
NAMIBIA
This is yet again an indication not to read too much into pre tournament rankings as the host nation come in ranked fourth. Namibia have not put together a better white ball unit in recent times than this team. With a tested and proven leader in Sarel Burger, a solid top order of youth and experience including a red hot Craig Williams, reliable all rounders including returning Christi Viljoen from Otago Volts once rated top associate all rounder and hard hitting LP Westhuizen Namibia for me come in as favorites to win it on home soil an honor they have been denied before.
OMAN
Statistics don’t lie and Oman progress through the world cricket league divisions winning the last one in Uganda and participation in the World T20 is a clear indication of the hunger the players have to continue this progress.
The Oman attacking brand of cricket won them many admirers here in Uganda and one can only hope they can only keep getting better. Many might wonder if this might be a level too high for them but I must remind you that they have been here before and played in the last world cricket league div 2 in Windhoek so watch out for them. Missing experience in Aamir Ali, Aamir Kaleem and Munis Ansari Oman have returned veteran batsman Wategaonkar and will be hoping he adds fire power to there batting alongside Zeeshan Maqsood, Jatinder Singh and Khawar Ali. Billal Khan will hold the bowling cards for the bowling unit alongside Ajay Lalcheta that played his trade in Uganda. However Oman are a momentum team and there tournament success has largely hung over how they do in there first game of the tournament. They beat Canada tomorrow and they will push the other teams all week, they lose and that might quickly end the ODI status dream for them.
CANADA
Canada on the hand will be content with just being in the tournament, their primary objective will be trying to stay in the Div 2 without looking at the world cup qualifiers.
After having scraped through the world cricket league division 3 in Uganda, Canada will hope Windhoek provides they ideal batting conditions for there strong batting unit led by Nitish Kumar, Bhavindu Adilhetty, Dhanuka Pathirana and a returning Ruvindu Gunasekara. Just like Kenya, Canada have rich cricket history but have recently too hit tough times falling to division 3 a ladder they would rather not return to. It’s a no brainer they will miss their former captains Rizwan Cheema and Jimmy Hansra on hunting ground that has been as literally hash as the desert for Canada.
They will enjoy playing as under dogs and gives there first fixture against Oman even more significance.
With this summary of the teams, I believe lots of the activity will be in the bottom four teams as I expect UAE and Namibia to run away with the top two positions. But again, stranger things have happened in this beautiful game of ours. Good luck to the teams
