New skipper, debutants as Kenya names Challenge League A squad

Cricket Kenya's Men's selection panel has named the Senior Men’s squad that will feature in the first round of the 2024-2026 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Challenge League A tournament later this month in Nairobi, Kenya.

Shem Ngoche will make his third stint as skipper, picking up the laurels from Rakep Patel for the second time in their joint career. Ngoche first took over Patel in 2018 and relinquished the armband to Sachin Bhudia in 2022 ahead of the T20 sub Regional Qualifier in Rwanda in December 2022.

Perhaps the biggest news coming out of the camp is the return of Dhiren Gondaria, who makes his return to the side since he featured in the Oman leg of the

2019-2022 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Challenge League B tournament in December 2019.

On the backdrop of Gondaria's return, All-rounder Sachin Gill finally lands his maiden List A call - up after featuring in July’s two-match 50 over friendly matches against Nigeria. The 27 year old finds his way into the side after meeting the conditions of ICC Exceptional Circumstances. Gill is currently plying his trade in the Super League side -Swamibapa Sports Club after playing for Ruaraka Sports Club for the last two seasons.

Neil Mugabe is the other List A debutant, having already made his T20I debut in December 2023 in Benoni, South Africa, during the Africa Cup East - West prequalifying round.

Sukhdeep Singh makes way for Irfan Karim who was dropped from the All Africa Games in Accra and the subsequent 4-nation and Nigeria bilateral in June/July.

The Kanbis Sports Club pair of Nelson Odhiambo and Emmanuel Bundi have also been left out of the side.

Kenya’s first fixture at the Challenge Cup is against Jersey at Ruaraka Sports Club on Wednesday 25 September.

Squad

1. Shem Ngoche (captain)

2. Rakep Patel

3. Pushkar Sharma

4. Rushab Patel

5. Francis Mutua

6. Gerard Muthui

7. Sachin Gill

8. Neil Mugabe

9. Vraj Patel

10. Lucas Oluoch

11. Dhiren Gondaria

12. Peter Koech

13. Sachin Bhudia

14. Irfan Karim

Cricket Kenya to host ICC Men's CWC Challenge League A tournament

2024-2026 ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League A

Cricket Kenya will host the first round of the 2024-2026 ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League A tournament that is slated to run from 25 September to 5 October 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Six nations will compete in the pathway tournament towards qualifications for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.

Teams participating

Hosts Kenya, Denmark, Kuwait, Papua New Guinea, Jersey and Qatar are the participating teams.

How will qualification work?

The first round of the Challenge League A will see each of the six teams play each other in a single round-robin tournament format (15 matches), with positioning on the table based on a points basis.

The top two teams from the group at the end of three rounds - one played each year till 2026 - will secure a spot at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier Playoff.

Fixtures

25 September 2024

Denmark vs Kuwait - Nairobi Gymkhana

Kenya vs Jersey - Ruaraka Sports Club

26 September 2024

Jersey vs Qatar - Nairobi Gymkhana

Denmark vs Papua New Guinea - Ruaraka Sports Club Ground

28 September 2024

Papua New Guinea vs Jersey - Nairobi Gymkhana

Kuwait vs Qatar - Ruaraka Sports Club Ground

29 September 2024

Kenya vs Denmark - Nairobi Gymkhana

1 October 2024

Kuwait vs Jersey - Nairobi Gymkhana

Qatar vs Papua New Guinea - Ruaraka Sports Club

2 October 2024

Qatar vs Denmark - Nairobi Gymkhana

Kenya vs Kuwait - Ruaraka Sports Club Ground

4 October 2024

Kenya vs Qatar - Nairobi Gymkhana

Papua New Guinea vs Kuwait - Ruaraka Sports Club

5 October 2024

Kenya vs Papua New Guinea - Nairobi Gymkhana

Jersey vs Denmark - Ruaraka Sports Club

Patel returns as skipper for Continent Cup T20 - Africa tourney

Rakep Patel will lead the hosts as Cricket Kenya hosts the inaugural Continent T20 Cup - Africa from 9th - 21st June 2023. He replaces his Club teammate Sachin Bhudia who took charge of the team in their successful tour to Kigali for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa A Qualifier in Kigali, Rwanda in November, last year.

This will be Patel's second stint as Kenya's captain across formats since stepping down in 2018.

Kenya will be hosting the first Men's international tournament in seven years since they hosted Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Uganda in a Quadrangular and Hong Kong in a bi - lateral series in 2016. The series will also see the return of the explosive opening batter, Alex Obanda after missing out on the Rwanda tour.

Kenya will be looking to cement their status on the Continent and improve their 28th placed ranking after a lull in fixtures since the completion of the ICC World Cricket League 2 last year.

The tournament bowls off on 9th June 2023 at Nairobi Gymkhana with Kenya taking on Rwanda. All the matches will be streamed live.

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