The prolific Pushkar Sharma is set to make his international debut this afternoon when Kenya takes on St. Helena in their opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier A. Sharma made his exploits in Mumbai before showing up for Ruaraka Sports Club in the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) as an all-rounder. However, for the three seasons that followed, it is his batting prowess at the top of the order that shone through. His highlight came last season when he scored 841 runs in 14 innings at a whooping average of 70.08, four centuries and three half centuries therein in the 50 over season.

Sharma is expected to solidify Kenya’s top order alongside Irfan Karim and Collins Obuya who has been a regular at the top since the Nepal series in September 2022. With the absence of the flamboyant Alex Obanda who had been side-lined due to injury, the spotlight will be on Sharma to fit right in.

With Emmanuel Bundi rested, paceman Peter Koech also gets an opportunity to swing the new ball as he makes a return to the side for the first time since his iT20 debut in Uganda in September 2021.

Playing XI

1. Collins Obuya
2. Pushkar Sharma
3. Irfan Karim
4. Rakep Patel
5. Sachin Bhudia
6. Tanzeel Sheikh
7. Nelson Odhiambo
8. Shem Ngoche
9. Lucas Ndandason
10. Peter Koech
11. Vraj Patel
12. Sukhdeep Singh

In a bid to do things differently, the Cricket Kenya interim selection committee, on Firday, announced a change of guard at the helm of the Senior Men's National Cricket Team, with Sachin Bhudia set to take over from the resilient Shem Ngoche who’s worn the armband since his second stint in 2019.

Bhudia jumps right into business as he leads the team to Kigali, Rwanda for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa A Qualifier, scheduled for 15th - 26th November 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda.

The boys hope to be amongst the top two teams that will advance to the regional event and the skipper is confident of their abilities. “I’m grateful for this opportunity to lead.

I’m happy with the squad and I believe that we can win the tournament,” added Bhudia.

The newly constituted Selection panel that is chaired by Alfred Njuguna also appointed all-rounder Lucas Ndandason as the vice-captain, the slot having been left vacant since Ngoche ascended to captaincy.

Notably, Pushkar Sharma finally earns a nod to the side and will be the sole iT20 debutant. The Indian born left hand top order batter reaps from his exploits with the Thika Road-based Ruaraka Sports Club where he topped the (NPCA) chart with 814 runs, inclusive of four centuries, three half centuries and an average of 70.08 from 14 innings last season.

Head Coach David Obuya stated that he will rely on experience, as he has over the years. “We are playing against teams that could be termed as ‘small’ but we are not taking them lightly. Our goal is to advance to the next stage and we are going to rely on our experienced players to do so,” said Obuya.

The tournament will be played in a round robin format and the top two teams will join the winner and runner up of the Africa Sub Regional Qualifier B tournament (1^st -9^th December 2022) in the Regional final that will comprise of Namibia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

The top two teams from the Regional event will proceed to the World Cup which will be hosted by West Indies and the United States in June 2024.

 SQUAD

1. Rushabh Patel – Swamibapa Sports Club
2. Pushkar Sharma – Ruaraka Sports Club
3. Irfan Karim (WK) – Aziz Damani Cricket Club (Uganda)
4. Collins Obuya – Obuya Cricket Academy
5. Rakep Patel – Kanbis Sports Club
6. Sukhdeep Singh – Sikh Union Sports Club
7. Sachin Bhudia (C) – Kanbis Sports Club
8. Nelson Odhiambo – Kanbis Sports Club
9. Tanzeel Sheikh – Stray Lions Cricket Club
10. Lucas Ndandason (VC) – Nairobi Gymkhana
11. Shem Ngoche – Stray Lions Cricket Club
12. Emmanuel Bundi – Kanbis Sports Club
13. Peter Koech – Swamibapa Sports Club
14. Vraj Patel – Stray Lions Cricket Club

Technical bench

1. David Obuya (Head Coach)
2. Moses Muturi (Physiotherapist/Team Manager)

Non travelling reserves

1. Eugene Ochieng’ – Sir Ali Muslim Sports Club
2. Vishil Patel – Ruaraka Sports Club

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