Rwanda Cricket Stadium


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.

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
cricket stadium in Rwanda

History

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

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

Bilateral Series

International record

Twenty20 International centuries

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

No.ScorePlayerTeamBallsOpposing teamInningsDateResult
1100*Orchide Tuyisenge  Rwanda 60  Seychelles119 October 2021Won
2104Francisco Couana  Mozambique 51  Cameroon13 November 2021Won
3100Vinoo Balakrishnan  Botswana 70  Saint Helena125 November 2022Won
4107*Obed Harvey  Ghana 54  Gambia18 December 2022Won
5100*Simon Ssesazi  Uganda 58  Tanzania122 December 2022Won

Twenty20 International five-wicket hauls

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

#FiguresPlayerCountryInningsOpponentDateResult
15/23Samson Awiah  Ghana1  Rwanda16 October 2021Won
25/9Kofi Bagabena  Ghana1  Seychelles16 October 2021Won
35/26Rexford Bakum  Ghana2  Lesotho17 October 2021Won
45/19Francisco Couana  Mozambique2  Cameroon3 November 2021Won
55/9Sylvester Okpe  Nigeria1  Cameroon5 December 2022Won
65/29Richmond Baaleri  Ghana2  Gambia8 December 2022Won

Women's Twenty20 International centuries

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

No.ScorePlayerTeamBallsOpposing teamInningsDateResult
1116Prosscovia Alako  Uganda 71  Mali120 June 2019Won
2103*Rita Musamali  Uganda 61  Mali120 June 2019Won
3114*Marie Bimenyimana  Rwanda 81  Mali121 June 2019Won
4108*Fatuma Kibasu  Tanzania 71  Mali122 June 2019Won
5100Prosscovia Alako  Uganda 63  Cameroon17 June 2024Won

Women's Twenty20 International five-wicket hauls

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

#FiguresPlayerCountryInningsOpponentDateResult
15/0Nasra Saidi  Tanzania2  Mali22 June 2019Won
25/12Sarah Wetoto  Kenya1  Botswana7 June 2021Won
36/16Sarah Wetoto  Kenya1  Namibia12 June 2021Won
46/7Lillian Udeh  Nigeria2  Rwanda4 June 2024Won
55/17Henriette Ishimwe  Rwanda1  Uganda5 June 2024Lost

References