Kanbis players to dominate inaugural Swaminarayan Pro20 tournament in Nairobi
NAIROBI: Multiple Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) super league champions Kanbis Sports Club will provide the bulk of captains in the inaugural Swaminarayan Pro20 tournament set to bowl off in Nairobi on Saturday.
The Easteigh based club will see its players leading four of the six teams in the 14-day night cricket event that will be played at the Cutchi Leva Samaj grounds. Former national team players Rakep Patel, Dhiren Gondaria, Sachin Bhudia and Nelson Mandela will be leading their sides in search for maiden glory of the tournament that has attracted former Test players from West Indies, England, South Africa, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
The other two sides will be led by national team captain Shem Ngoche and Swamibapa’s skipper Rushab Patel. Rakep will lead Mahadev Strikers that has Thisara Perera from Sri Lanka while Gondaria will lead the Mafuko Mavericks.
Mavericks boosts of former Proteas, Cape Cobras and Northamptonshire batsman Richard Levi. Odhiambo will be together with Zimbabwe’s Elton Chigumbura in Mombasa Cement Giants. Kanbis’ batsman Bhudia will lead Hari OM Titans that will include West Indian batsman Dwayne Smith. Obado and Rushab will lead Play Master Warriors and Purple Dot Ndovus respectively. The two teams will consist of Ireland’s Kevin Obrien and England’s Owais Shah.
Rakep said: “I am delighted to have been tasked to lead a team in this event. Just like any other player that will be involved in this tournament, I am looking forward to a good and entertaining event.
“As someone who has played to the top level and has seen the standard of the game in the country dwindling, I am confident this event is a big step in getting things back on track.
Apart from the former Test players, each team will also have national team players, NPCA top performers in the ongoing league and India’s Ranji Trophy players.
“Our team’s objectives at the tournament are mainly to apply ourselves and go through our processes thoroughly while taking each game as it comes. We want to make a mark in the event, but we understand that getting there will come in each game,” Mandela said.
“I think teamwork is what we’re going in with. We want to play a brand of cricket that will entertain the spectators, which is playing with freedom and being brave. All the other fine aspects in each department sort of take care of themselves” he added.
The tournament is also aimed at raising funds to cater for the treatment of at least 200 needy patients in Nairobi.
