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.
| "Kicukiro Oval" "Rwanda Cricket Stadium" | |
 An aerial photo of the Gahanga Cricket Stadium | |
| Ground information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Kigali City, Rwanda |
| Coordinates | 2°01′46″S 30°06′26″E / 2.02944°S 30.10722°E |
| Capacity | 5,000-10,000 |
| Owner | Government of Rwanda |
| Operator | Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation |
| Tenants | Rwanda national cricket team |
| End names | |
Pavilion End  Plantation End | |
| International information | |
| First T20I | 18 August 2021: Rwanda v  Ghana |
| Last T20I | 31 August 2023: Rwanda v  Tanzania |
| First WT20I | 18 June 2019: Tanzania v  Uganda |
| Last WT20I | 8 June 2024: Botswana v  Kenya |
| As of 8 June 2024 Source: ESPNcricinfo | |
| Ground information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Kigali City, Rwanda |
| Owner | Government of Rwanda |
| Operator | Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation |
| Tenants | Rwanda national cricket team |
| International information | |
| First WT20I | 31 May 2024: Nigeria v Uganda |
| Last WT20I | 8 June 2024: Rwanda v Nigeria |
| As of 8 June 2024 Source: ESPNcricinfo | |
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:
- 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier
- Qualifier A, Qualifier B, Regional Final
- 2022–23 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier
- Qualifier A, Qualifier B
- Kwibuka T20 Tournament
- 2022 East Africa T20 Series
Bilateral Series
International record
Twenty20 International centuries
Five T20I centuries have been scored at the venue.[17]
| No. | Score | Player | Team | Balls | Opposing team | Innings | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100* | Orchide Tuyisenge | Rwanda | 60 |  Seychelles | 1 | 19 October 2021 | Won |
| 2 | 104 | Francisco Couana |  Mozambique | 51 |  Cameroon | 1 | 3 November 2021 | Won |
| 3 | 100 | Vinoo Balakrishnan | Botswana | 70 |  Saint Helena | 1 | 25 November 2022 | Won |
| 4 | 107* | Obed Harvey | Ghana | 54 |  Gambia | 1 | 8 December 2022 | Won |
| 5 | 100* | Simon Ssesazi | Uganda | 58 | Tanzania | 1 | 22 December 2022 | Won |
Twenty20 International five-wicket hauls
Six 20I five-wicket haul has been taken at this venue.[18]
| # | Figures | Player | Country | Innings | Opponent | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5/23 | Samson Awiah | Ghana | 1 | Rwanda | 16 October 2021 | Won |
| 2 | 5/9 | Kofi Bagabena | Ghana | 1 | Seychelles | 16 October 2021 | Won |
| 3 | 5/26 | Rexford Bakum | Ghana | 2 |  Lesotho | 17 October 2021 | Won |
| 4 | 5/19 | Francisco Couana | Mozambique | 2 | Cameroon | 3 November 2021 | Won |
| 5 | 5/9 | Sylvester Okpe | Nigeria | 1 | Cameroon | 5 December 2022 | Won |
| 6 | 5/29 | Richmond Baaleri | Ghana | 2 | Gambia | 8 December 2022 | Won |
Women's Twenty20 International centuries
Five WT20I centuries have been scored at the venue.[19]
| No. | Score | Player | Team | Balls | Opposing team | Innings | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 116 | Prosscovia Alako | Uganda | 71 |  Mali | 1 | 20 June 2019 | Won |
| 2 | 103* | Rita Musamali | Uganda | 61 | Mali | 1 | 20 June 2019 | Won |
| 3 | 114* | Marie Bimenyimana | Rwanda | 81 | Mali | 1 | 21 June 2019 | Won |
| 4 | 108* | Fatuma Kibasu | Tanzania | 71 | Mali | 1 | 22 June 2019 | Won |
| 5 | 100 | Prosscovia Alako | Uganda | 63 | Cameroon | 1 | 7 June 2024 | Won |
Women's Twenty20 International five-wicket hauls
Five WT20I five-wicket haul has been taken at this venue.[20]
| # | Figures | Player | Country | Innings | Opponent | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5/0 | Nasra Saidi | Tanzania | 2 | Mali | 22 June 2019 | Won |
| 2 | 5/12 | Sarah Wetoto | Kenya | 1 | Botswana | 7 June 2021 | Won |
| 3 | 6/16 | Sarah Wetoto | Kenya | 1 |  Namibia | 12 June 2021 | Won |
| 4 | 6/7 | Lillian Udeh | Nigeria | 2 | Rwanda | 4 June 2024 | Won |
| 5 | 5/17 | Henriette Ishimwe | Rwanda | 1 | Uganda | 5 June 2024 | Lost |
References
External links
- Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation
- espncricinfo magazine
- UNIVERSITY CRICKET at OXFORD Archived 30 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine