Botswana national cricket team

Cricket was started in the country by expatriates from South Africa and the Indian subcontinent.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060217104503/http://www.cricketfundas.com/africa/botswana.html History of cricket in Botswana]}} Botswana was elected to the ICC as an affiliate member in 2001, and played in the Africa Cup in Zambia the following year. After winning all their first-round matches against Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, they beat Kenya in the semi-final before losing by 270 runs to South Africa in the final.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2002/TOURNAMENTS/AFRICACUP/about.shtml |title=2002 Africa Cup at CricketEurope |access-date=3 August 2007 |archive-date=12 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612095304/http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2002/TOURNAMENTS/AFRICACUP/about.shtml |url-status=dead }}

In March 2004, they won the African affiliates qualifying tournament for the 2005 ICC Trophy, qualifying them for the next stage of qualification, the Africa Cricket Association Championships. They beat Nigeria and Tanzania in that tournament in Zambia in August, finishing fourth, thus missing out on qualification for their first ICC Trophy.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cricketeurope4.net/ICCT2005/DATABASE/QUALIFYING/africa.shtml |title=2005 ICC Trophy African qualifying at the tournament's official website |access-date=3 August 2007 |archive-date=24 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524025516/http://www.cricketeurope4.net/ICCT2005/DATABASE/QUALIFYING/africa.shtml |url-status=dead }} They were rewarded for their performance in this tournament by being promoted to associate membership of the ICC in 2005.

In 2006, they took part in Division Two of the African region of the World Cricket League, finishing second behind Tanzania.[http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2006/TOURNAMENTS/WCLAFRICA2/about.shtml 2006 WCL Africa Region Division Two] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070116192748/http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2006/TOURNAMENTS/WCLAFRICA2/about.shtml |date=16 January 2007 }} at CricketEurope This qualified them for Division Five of the World Cricket League.

In May 2008, Botswana travelled to Jersey to take part in the Division Five tournament. Although Botswana beat the Bahamas in Group B, it was their only group stage win and with three losses and one match abandoned due to rain they failed to make the semi-finals. Botswana finished sixth overall after defeating Germany but losing to Singapore in positional playoff matches. With only the top two from this tournament qualifying for Division Four in Tanzania later in the year, Botswana missed out on the chance to take their 2011 World Cup dream any further.[http://www.cricinfo.com/wcl/engine/match/349866.html, Cricinfo, Accessed 2 September 2009]

In October 2008, Botswana took part in Division Two of the African region of the World Cricket League, finishing unbeaten and winning the tournament. This victory promoted them to Division One of the Africa Region.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/373404.html |title=Botswana win promotion to Africa's top flight | Cricket News | Cricinfo ICC Site | ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=2015-07-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012201628/http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/373404.html |archive-date=12 October 2012 |df=dmy }}, Cricinfo, Accessed 1 November 2008

In August 2009, Botswana travelled to Singapore to participate in Division Six of the World Cricket League. Despite being competitive in most of their games, Botswana won only one of five group matches and finished fifth after beating Norway in a positional playoff.[http://www.cricinfo.com/wcl/engine/series/418156.html], Cricinfo, Accessed 18 September 2009

In May 2011, Botswana hosted the ICC World Cricket League Division Seven with a young squad and performed admirably well, winning three league stage matches against Norway, Japan and Germany but losing out to eventual champions Kuwait, 2nd placed Nigeria and finally Germany in the placing match. The match versus Nigeria in the league stages was to decide which of the 2 nations would progress to the ICC World Cricket League Division Six to be held in Malaysia in September 2011 and by losing that match, Botswana failed to progress and will remain in Division Seven till the next instalment of the ICC WCL.

In April 2013, Botswana were given hosting rights again for the ICC World Cricket League Division 7 in their second attempt in trying to get promoted out of Division 7 after halting the relegation slide in the last edition. Beating Ghana in the first match, Botswana lost their second match in a competitive encounter against Vanuatu by 23 runs. Botswana then lost third next match heavily to eventual WCL Div 7 winners and arch rivals Nigeria. Botswana tried in vain to get back into contention for promotion but after a tied match against Germany, all hopes were dashed and the best they could hope for was a third-place finish. This was achieved by beating Fiji in the last group match and then beating them again in the third-place playoff earning Botswana a third place, finishing behind Vanuatu and Nigeria who were both promoted to Division 6 of the WCL. With the ICC's decision to eliminate the ICC World Cricket League Divisions 7 and 8, Botswana will now have to qualify through regional tournaments to make it into the ICC World Cricket League Division 6, which will now be the entry point for the World Cricket League.

In April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Botswana and other ICC members since 1 January 2019 have the full T20I status.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/672322|title=All T20 matches between ICC members to get international status|work=International Cricket Council|date=26 April 2018|access-date=1 September 2018}}

Botswana’s first T20I match was against Uganda on 20 May 2019, after finishing first in the Southern sub-region qualification group, advancing to the Regional Final of the 2018–19 ICC World Twenty20 Africa Qualifier tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/896163 |title=Botswana and Namibia seal passage into Africa Finals |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=3 November 2018}}

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 20 May 2019

| time = 13:50

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|UGA}}

| team2 = {{cr|BOT}}

| score1 = 142/7 (20 overs)

| runs1 = Arnold Otwani 44 (27)

| wickets1 = Karabo Modise 3/18 (3 overs)

| score2 = 90 (18 overs)

| runs2 = Vinoo Balakrishnan 26 (32)

| wickets2 = Frank Nsubuga 2/19 (4 overs)

| result = Uganda won by 52 runs

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1184260.html Scorecard]

| venue = Lugogo Stadium, Kampala

| umpires = Emmanuel Byiringiro (Rwa) and David Odhiambo (Ken)

| motm = Arnold Otwani (Uga)

| toss = Botswana won the toss and elected to field.

| notes = First ever T20I match for Botswana.

}}

• BCA Ground (Oval 1 & 2), Gaborone
• Lobatse Cricket Ground, Lobatse

{{location map+|Botswana|float=center|width=390|caption=Locations of all stadiums within Botswana which have hosted cricket matches with international status|places=

{{location map~|Botswana|label=BCA Oval 1|position=left|lat=-24.6537|long=25.9394}}

{{location map~|Botswana|label=BCA Oval 2|position=right|lat=-24.6537|long=25.9394}}

}}

• 2006: Division Two runners-up[http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Events/Tables/ICC_World_Cricket_League_Africa_Region_Division_Two_2006.html Cricket Archive, Accessed 1 November 2008]
• 2008: Division Two winners

• 2008: Division Five 6th place[http://www.cricinfo.com/wcl/engine/current/match/349866.html, Cricinfo, Accessed 18 September 2009]
• 2009: Division Six 5th place[http://www.cricinfo.com/wcl/engine/current/match/419238.html Cricinfo, Accessed 18 September 2009]
• 2011: Division Seven 4th place
• 2013: Division Seven 3rd place[http://www.espncricinfo.com/wcldiv7-2011/content/story/514328.html 514328.html]
• 2015: Division Six 6th place

• 2022: Semi-final

• 2024:Sub-Regional Qualifer C 2nd place https://www.ngamitimes.co.bw/botswana-cricket-team-qualifies-for-mens-t20-africa-finals/#:~:text=Botswana%20Senior%20Men%20Cricket%20team%20has%20qualified%20for,Group%20C%20held%20in%20Abuja%2C%20Nigeria%20this%20week.

International match summary{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/team/results_summary.html?class=3;id=116;type=team |title=Records / Botswana / Twenty20 Internationals / Result summary |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=20 November 2022}}

Last updated 13 December 2024

• Highest team total: 185/6 v Mozambique, 19 September 2022 at Willowmoore Park, Benoni{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/team/highest_innings_totals.html?class=3;id=116;type=team |title=Records / Botswana / Twenty20 Internationals / Highest totals |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=25 November 2022}}
• Highest individual score: 101, Vinoo Balakrishnan v Eswatini, 23 November 2024 at Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval, Lagos{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_innings.html?class=3;id=116;type=team |title=Records / Botswana / Twenty20 Internationals / High scores |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=22 May 2019}}
• Best individual bowling figures: 5/18, Dhruv Maisuria v Ghana, 18 September 2022 at Willowmoore Park, Benoni{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/best_figures_innings.html?class=3;id=116;type=team |title=Records / Botswana / Twenty20 Internationals / Best bowling figures |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=22 May 2019}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-break}}

Most T20I runs for Botswana{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?class=3;id=116;type=team |title=Records / Botswana / Twenty20 Internationals / Most runs |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=21 May 2019}}

{{col-break}}

Most T20I wickets for Botswana{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?class=3;id=116;type=team |title=Records / Botswana / Twenty20 Internationals / Most wickets |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=21 May 2019}}

{{col-end}}

T20I record versus other nations

Records complete to T20I #3045. Last updated 13 December 2024.

For a list of selected international matches played by Botswana, see [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Teams/3/3165/Miscellaneous_Matches.html Cricket Archive].

This lists all the players who have played for Botswana in the past 12 months or has been part of the latest T20I squad. Updated as of 19 June 2023.

• 2010–2013: {{flagicon|SIN}} Arjun Menon{{cite news|url=https://www.mmegi.bw/sport/menons-cricket-puzzle-coming-together/news|title=Menon's cricket puzzle coming together|newspaper=Mmegi|date=1 June 2012|access-date=13 September 2023|first=Sylviah|last=Disele}}
• 2015: {{flagicon|RSA}} Johan Rudolph (interim){{cite news|url=https://www.mmegi.bw/sport/sa-cricket-coach-to-assist-botswana-team/news|title=SA cricket coach to assist Botswana team|newspaper=Mmegi|date=30 April 2015|access-date=13 September 2023|first=Dumisani|last=Ncube}}
• 2015–2023: {{flagicon|KEN}} Joseph Angara{{cite news|first=Deepak|last=Madangarli|date=19 August 2015|url=http://www.cricketbotswana.org/news/2015/08/19/bca-activities-update/|title=BCA Activities Update|publisher=Botswana Cricket Association|access-date=13 September 2023|archive-date=1 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901221204/http://www.cricketbotswana.org/news/2015/08/19/bca-activities-update/|url-status=dead}}
• 2023–present: {{flagicon|ZIM}} Stanley Timoni{{cite news|url=https://www.mmegi.bw/sports/new-cricket-coach-checks-in-as-angara-departs/news|title=New cricket coach checks in as Angara departs|newspaper=Mmegi|date=21 July 2023|access-date=13 September 2023}}

• List of Botswana Twenty20 International cricketers
• Botswana women's national cricket team

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{National cricket teams}}

{{National sports teams of Botswana}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Botswana National Cricket Team}}

Category:National cricket teams

Category:Cricket in Botswana

Cricket

Category:Botswana in international cricket