Zambian cricket team
Encyclopedia
The Zambia national cricket team is the team that represents the country of Zambia
in international cricket
matches. It is administered by the Zambia Cricket Union
, who became an associate member of the International Cricket Council
(ICC) in 2003. The national side dates back to 1930, when they played as Northern Rhodesia against the MCC
in Livingstone
. They play regularly in African regional tournaments.
, cricket was introduced into Zambia from neighbouring Zimbabwe
(then Southern Rhodesia
), in the early 1900s. With the number of the British settlers relatively low compared to Southern Rhodesia, cricket was slow to develop.
Despite the slow rate of development, the MCC travelled to Livingstone in December 1930 during their tour of South Africa
, easily beating Northern Rhodesia by 9 wickets in their first international. By the late 1930s, cricket in Northern Rhodesia was being integrated with cricket in Southern Rhodesia, though it was rare to see players from the North playing for Rhodesia.
, cricket was more formally organised with the formation of the Northern Rhodesia Cricket Union, and in 1948 an annual series of matches was begun against Southern Rhodesia. This lasted only until 1954 as the Southern Rhodesia side were much too strong to make any sort of decent contest. The North won only once, in 1952. One match was drawn and the other five all went the way of the South.
With the formation of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
in 1954, cricket was fully integrated with Southern Rhodesia but investment was concentrated around Harare
and Bulawayo
, meaning that cricket began to decline in the country. Nevertheless, a team was still organised to play Australia in October 1957 to start off the Australians tour of South Africa. Australia scored 302/6 declared
in their innings and Richie Benaud
took 9/16 as the home team were dismissed for 85 in their first innings, but they managed to hold out for a draw in the two-day match.
No further matches were played by Northern Rhodesia, but Rhodesia did play two first-class
matches at Ek Park
, Kitwe
in 1962, one against an International XI and one against a Commonwealth XI
.
in September 1968.
The 1970s were the most successful period for Zambian cricket. The country became a favoured destination for English sides. Gloucestershire
toured in 1971, Glamorgan
in 1972, the MCC in 1974 and Warwickshire
in 1977. However, in the early 1980s the government began to invest less money in sport and with athletics and soccer being of more interest, cricket was a low priority. A combined Minor Counties
side toured in 1982, but this was the last match played by the national side until the mid 1990s, though some Zambian players did play as part of the East African cricket team
and East and Central African cricket team
.
, but the national side returned to play in the African Cricket Association Championships in 1994. Zambia took part in the Africa Cup in 2002, beating Namibia
and Tanzania and the Zambian Cricket Union became an associate member of the ICC in 2003, enabling the national side to take part in ICC tournaments for the first time.
Zambia hosted the African Cricket Association Championship in 2004, the tournament being part of the qualification process for the 2005 ICC Trophy
in Ireland
. Zambia finished third behind Namibia and Uganda, qualifying them for the repêchage tournament. This tournament took place in Kuala Lumpur
in February 2005 and Zambia finished eighth and last after losing to Italy in the seventh place play-off.
Zambia finished fourth in the World Cricket League Africa Region
Division Two tournament in 2006, beating only Nigeria and did better in the same tournament in 2008 when they finished third behind Botswana and Nigeria. In 2010, they went better once again, winning the tournament. This then granted them entry into the 2010 ICC World Cricket League Division Eight
.
or List A cricket:
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
in international cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
matches. It is administered by the Zambia Cricket Union
Zambia Cricket Union
Zambia Cricket Union is the official governing body of the sport of cricket in Zambia. Its current headquarters is in Lusaka, Zambia. Zambia Cricket Union is Zambia's representative at the International Cricket Council and is associate member and has been a member of that body since 2003. It is...
, who became an associate member of the International Cricket Council
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
(ICC) in 2003. The national side dates back to 1930, when they played as Northern Rhodesia against the MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
in Livingstone
Livingstone, Zambia
Livingstone or Maramba is a historic colonial city and present capital of the Southern Province of Zambia, a tourism centre for the Victoria Falls lying north of the Zambezi River, and a border town with road and rail connections to Zimbabwe on the other side of the Falls...
. They play regularly in African regional tournaments.
Beginnings
Then Northern RhodesiaNorthern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia was a territory in south central Africa, formed in 1911. It became independent in 1964 as Zambia.It was initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by amalgamating North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia...
, cricket was introduced into Zambia from neighbouring Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
(then Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
), in the early 1900s. With the number of the British settlers relatively low compared to Southern Rhodesia, cricket was slow to develop.
Despite the slow rate of development, the MCC travelled to Livingstone in December 1930 during their tour of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, easily beating Northern Rhodesia by 9 wickets in their first international. By the late 1930s, cricket in Northern Rhodesia was being integrated with cricket in Southern Rhodesia, though it was rare to see players from the North playing for Rhodesia.
First formal organisation
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, cricket was more formally organised with the formation of the Northern Rhodesia Cricket Union, and in 1948 an annual series of matches was begun against Southern Rhodesia. This lasted only until 1954 as the Southern Rhodesia side were much too strong to make any sort of decent contest. The North won only once, in 1952. One match was drawn and the other five all went the way of the South.
With the formation of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, also known as the Central African Federation , was a semi-independent state in southern Africa that existed from 1953 to the end of 1963, comprising the former self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia and the British protectorates of Northern Rhodesia,...
in 1954, cricket was fully integrated with Southern Rhodesia but investment was concentrated around Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
and Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
, meaning that cricket began to decline in the country. Nevertheless, a team was still organised to play Australia in October 1957 to start off the Australians tour of South Africa. Australia scored 302/6 declared
Declaration and forfeiture
In the sport of cricket a declaration occurs when a captain declares his team's innings closed and a forfeiture is when a captain chooses to forfeit an innings. Declaration and forfeiture are covered in Law 14 of the Laws of cricket...
in their innings and Richie Benaud
Richie Benaud
Richard "Richie" Benaud OBE is a former Australian cricketer who, since his retirement from international cricket in 1964, has become a highly regarded commentator on the game....
took 9/16 as the home team were dismissed for 85 in their first innings, but they managed to hold out for a draw in the two-day match.
No further matches were played by Northern Rhodesia, but Rhodesia did play two first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
matches at Ek Park
Ek Park
Ek Park is a cricket ground in Kitwe, Zambia. The first recorded match on the ground came in 1957 when Northern Rhodesia played the touring Australians....
, Kitwe
Kitwe
Kitwe is the second largest city in terms of size and population in Zambia. With a population of 547,700 Kitwe is one of the most developed commercial and industrial areas in the nation, alongside Ndola and Lusaka...
in 1962, one against an International XI and one against a Commonwealth XI
Commonwealth XI cricket team
The Commonwealth XI cricket team played over 100 first-class cricket matches from 1949 to 1968. The team started out as a side made up of mostly English, Australian and West Indian cricketers, that toured the subcontinent but later on played first-class fixtures in England...
.
Zambia starts play
With Zambia gaining independence in 1964, cricket began a resurgence. Previously representative cricket had been confined to the white population due to Rhodesian cricket's links with apartheid South Africa, the non-white population was now allowed to take part. The Zambian Cricket Union was formed almost immediately and multi-racial cricket began. Zambia began taking part in the East African regional tournaments with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in 1968, playing their first match as Zambia against Kenya in NairobiNairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
in September 1968.
The 1970s were the most successful period for Zambian cricket. The country became a favoured destination for English sides. Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....
toured in 1971, Glamorgan
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
in 1972, the MCC in 1974 and Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
in 1977. However, in the early 1980s the government began to invest less money in sport and with athletics and soccer being of more interest, cricket was a low priority. A combined Minor Counties
Minor counties of English cricket
The Minor Counties are the cricketing counties of England and Wales that are not afforded first-class status. The game is administered by the Minor Counties Cricket Association which comes under the England and Wales Cricket Board...
side toured in 1982, but this was the last match played by the national side until the mid 1990s, though some Zambian players did play as part of the East African cricket team
East African cricket team
The East African cricket team was a cricket team representing Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia. Their first game was against a South African Non-European team in 1958. East Africa appeared in the 1975 World Cup- represented by players from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia; and the 1979, 1982...
and East and Central African cricket team
East and Central African cricket team
The East and Central African cricket team was a cricket team representing Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia in international cricket matches. They were an associate member of the International Cricket Council from 1989 until 2003.-History:...
.
Modern era
By the mid 1990s, cricket was confined almost entirely to LusakaLusaka
Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is located in the southern part of the central plateau, at an elevation of about 1,300 metres . It has a population of about 1.7 million . It is a commercial centre as well as the centre of government, and the four main highways of Zambia head...
, but the national side returned to play in the African Cricket Association Championships in 1994. Zambia took part in the Africa Cup in 2002, beating Namibia
Namibia national cricket team
The Namibia cricket team is the team that represents the country of Namibia in international cricket matches. It is governed by Cricket Namibia, an associate member of the International Cricket Council since 1992 and became part of the High Performance Program in 2007. They took part in the 2003...
and Tanzania and the Zambian Cricket Union became an associate member of the ICC in 2003, enabling the national side to take part in ICC tournaments for the first time.
Zambia hosted the African Cricket Association Championship in 2004, the tournament being part of the qualification process for the 2005 ICC Trophy
2005 ICC Trophy
Ireland beat Bermuda easily as Ed Joyce made 103 for the hosts in Stormont.----Denmark beat Uganda by 28 runs as Thomas Munkholt Hansen took 6 for 30 to carry Denmark to a 28-run win over Uganda in Muckamore. Denmark made 197 with Henrik Saxe Hansen making 71...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Zambia finished third behind Namibia and Uganda, qualifying them for the repêchage tournament. This tournament took place in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
in February 2005 and Zambia finished eighth and last after losing to Italy in the seventh place play-off.
Zambia finished fourth in the World Cricket League Africa Region
World Cricket League Africa Region
The World Cricket League Africa Region or Africa World Cricket League is a one-day cricket tournament organised by the African Cricket Association for non-Test national cricket teams in Africa...
Division Two tournament in 2006, beating only Nigeria and did better in the same tournament in 2008 when they finished third behind Botswana and Nigeria. In 2010, they went better once again, winning the tournament. This then granted them entry into the 2010 ICC World Cricket League Division Eight
2010 ICC World Cricket League Division Eight
The 2010 ICC World Cricket League Division Eight was a cricket tournament that took place from November 6 to 12, 2010 in Kuwait. It is a part of the World Cricket League competition administered by the International Cricket Council, the international governing body for cricket.-Teams:Relegated from...
.
ICC World Cricket League
- 2010: 4th place (Division Eight2010 ICC World Cricket League Division EightThe 2010 ICC World Cricket League Division Eight was a cricket tournament that took place from November 6 to 12, 2010 in Kuwait. It is a part of the World Cricket League competition administered by the International Cricket Council, the international governing body for cricket.-Teams:Relegated from...
)
ICC Trophy
- 19791979 ICC TrophyCanada proved too strong for Malaysia, Rasiah Ratnalingham's excellent analysis of 12-5-18-3 not enough to stop the Canadians winning by 44 runs thanks to 77 from Cecil Marshall and 4-33 from John Vaughan...
–19861986 ICC TrophyThe 1986 ICC Trophy was a limited-overs cricket tournament held in England between 11 June and 7 July 1986. It was the third ICC Trophy tournament to be staged, and as with the previous two tournaments, games between the 16 participating teams played over 60 overs a side and with white clothing and...
: Did not participate - not an ICC member. - 19901990 ICC TrophyThe 1990 ICC Trophy was a limited-overs cricket tournament held in the Netherlands between 4 June and 23 June 1990. It was the fourth ICC Trophy tournament to be staged, and the first to be held outside England. It was also the first ICC Trophy competition to have a title sponsor, being known...
–20012001 ICC TrophyThe 2001 ICC Trophy was a cricket tournament played in Ontario, Canada in 2001. It was the qualifying tournament for the 2003 Cricket World Cup...
: See East and Central African cricket teamEast and Central African cricket teamThe East and Central African cricket team was a cricket team representing Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia in international cricket matches. They were an associate member of the International Cricket Council from 1989 until 2003.-History:...
. - 20052005 ICC TrophyIreland beat Bermuda easily as Ed Joyce made 103 for the hosts in Stormont.----Denmark beat Uganda by 28 runs as Thomas Munkholt Hansen took 6 for 30 to carry Denmark to a 28-run win over Uganda in Muckamore. Denmark made 197 with Henrik Saxe Hansen making 71...
: Did not qualify.
World Cricket League Africa Region
- 2006: 4th place (Division Two2006 ICC World Cricket League Africa Region Division TwoThe 2006 ICC World Cricket League Africa Region Division Two was a cricket tournament in Tanzania, taking place between 23 April and 27 August 2006...
) - 2008: 3rd place (Division Two2008 ICC World Cricket League Africa Region Division TwoThe 2008 ICC World Cricket League Africa Region Division Two was a cricket tournament in Benoni, South Africa, taking place between 4 August and 9 October 2008...
) - 2010: 1st place (Division Two2010 ICC World Cricket League Africa Region Division TwoThe 2010 ICC World Cricket League Africa Region Division Two was a cricket tournament held in Benoni, Gauteng, South Africa, took place between 23 April and 29 April 2010...
)
Records
- Highest team total: 449/5 declared v Uganda, 1969
- Highest individual score: 183 by B Vashee v Uganda, 1969
- Best bowling: 7/76 by RC Wilson v Kenya, 1968
Current squad
- The following list contains the 14 players in Zambia's squad for the 2010 ICC World Cricket League Division Eight2010 ICC World Cricket League Division EightThe 2010 ICC World Cricket League Division Eight was a cricket tournament that took place from November 6 to 12, 2010 in Kuwait. It is a part of the World Cricket League competition administered by the International Cricket Council, the international governing body for cricket.-Teams:Relegated from...
:
- Abid Patel
- Allan Nsensha
- Ashraf Lulat
- Gladson Kandela
- Godfrey Kandela
- Himal Patel
- Imran Patel
- Isaac Mwaba
- Kafumu Banda
- Mohamed Mitha
- Sarfarajhusen Sopariya
- Sarfraz Patel
- Sharif Yousuf
- Tapson Nyirongo
Other players
The following players played for Northern Rhodesia/Zambia and also played first-classFirst-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
or List A cricket:
- Derek Bruorton - played for TransvaalTransvaal cricket teamGauteng cricket team is the first-class cricket team of the province of Gauteng in South Africa....
. - Aubrey Dennis - played for North Eastern TransvaalNortherns cricket teamNortherns cricket team has played first-class cricket in South Africa since December 1937....
. - Roger Henderson - played for Rhodesia.
- Wally Hitzeroth - played for Eastern ProvinceEastern Province cricket teamEastern Province cricket team is the team representing the Eastern Province in domestic first-class cricket in South Africa.-Honours:* Currie Cup - 1988–89, 1991–92; shared - 1989–90* Standard Bank Cup - 1989–90, 1991–92...
and Rhodesia. - Bernard Horton - played for Rhodesia.
- Michael Lee - played for Rhodesia and Western ProvinceWestern Province cricket teamWestern Province cricket team is the team representing Western Cape province in domestic first-class cricket in South Africa. The team began playing in January 1890 and its main venue has always been Newlands in Cape Town.-Honours:...
. - Hamish McLeodHamish McLeodHamish McLeod was an East African cricketer. He played as a wicket-keeper in two One Day Internationals against New Zealand and England in the 1975 World Cup...
- played for East Africa. - Parbhu Nana - played for East Africa.
- Majid Pandor - played for East Africa.
- CD PatelC. D. PatelC. D. Patel played cricket for Tanzania between 1956 and 1967 and for Zambia between 1968 and 1972. A right-handed batsman and off spin bowler, he also played first-class cricket for East Africa.-Career:...
- played for East Africa. - Bimal SoniBimal SoniBimal Soni was the manager of the Indian cricket team. He was also President of the Jaipur District Cricket Association, a constituent group of the Rajasthan Cricket Association.-References:...
- played for RajasthanRajasthan cricket teamThe Rajasthan cricket team is a domestic cricket team based in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Team emerged as the champion of the Ranji Trophy in 2011, after finishing runners-up eight times . It is currently in the Ranji Trophy elite group."Rajasthan cricket team" is also popularly known as...
. - Peter StimpsonPeter StimpsonPeter John Stimpson is a former Welsh cricketer who played first-class and List A cricket for Worcestershire in 1971 and 1972.Stimpson was playing for Worcestershire's Second XI as early as 1963, aged just 16,...
- played for WorcestershireWorcestershire County Cricket ClubWorcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
. - Jackie Ward - played for Transvaal and Rhodesia.
- Yunus BadatYunus BadatYunus Badat was an East African cricketer. He played two One day Internationals in the 1975 World Cup....
- played for East Africa.
See also
- History of cricket in Rhodesia and Zimbabwe to 1992History of cricket in Rhodesia and Zimbabwe to 1992This article is an introduction to the history of first-class cricket in Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia and Southern Rhodesia...
- East African cricket teamEast African cricket teamThe East African cricket team was a cricket team representing Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia. Their first game was against a South African Non-European team in 1958. East Africa appeared in the 1975 World Cup- represented by players from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia; and the 1979, 1982...
- East and Central African cricket teamEast and Central African cricket teamThe East and Central African cricket team was a cricket team representing Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia in international cricket matches. They were an associate member of the International Cricket Council from 1989 until 2003.-History:...