Akanimo Kufre in Benin
Nigerian cricket fans and the national team selectors board will all focus on Benin City as the Edo State cricket league kick starts this weekend for the 2023 season.
About 240 players are registered for the Edo state cricket league. The tournament this time will be played in a round-robin format with a total of 28 matches followed by super 4 playoffs.
Eight teams are set to participate with about 240 players across the country will be in cricket action for 28 matches.
The eight teams in the league include No Limit Cricket Club (CC), Uniben CC, Ambrose Ali CC, and the Crusader CC.
Others are Integrity Force CC, U17 CC, Dolphin CC, and Invictus CC.
“There will be class performances, new talent discovery, and a testing ground for those expected to play for the country.
“I know that the national sectors will be looking closely at the Edo State Cricket league to evaluate the potential of those expected in the national camps.” Barr. Abraham Oviawe, Vice Chairman of Edo State Cricket Association said.
The league’s regular names like Destiny Eghosa, Prosper Useni, Peter Aho, and Selim brothers will feature for various clubs while Joshua Afia, a leg spinner and debutant at the national team will play as a new entrant as well as Nigeria’s national captain, Sylvester Okpe.
Also expected for the first time will be Issac Okpe and other players from Kaduna, Oyo, Ogun, and Akwa Ibom states.
One peculiarity of Edo cricket is the highest number of female representatives on the national team. Again Barr. Oviawe attributed this success to their league development pathways.
“We have created a platform for each club to play a female in the league. That will afford those in the female national team to compete favorably with the male. One exciting part is that Salome Sunday has subscribed to play in the league. From this Sunday, she will be playing for the Crusaders Cricket Club. It’s going to be interesting and exciting moments of cricket for Edo State and Nigerian cricket followers. It is an opportunity for players to enhance their game and improve their statistics.”
Salome Sunday from Akwa Ibom State has recently become Nigeria’s national female cricket powerhouse.
Salome has recorded 486 runs in 28 matches. In June 2022 at Kigali, Salome was the only Nigerian appointed to play in the Commonwealth Select XI during the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)
The Edo Cricket league matches are all going to be played on turf wicket that is comparable to all international standards.
