Sports and Games

Lazarus Chakwera hails Malawi Under -19 team

Lazarus Chakwera hails Malawi Under -19 team

President Lazarus Chakwera has congratulated the Malawi Under-19 Women’s National Cricket Team for winning the International Cricket Council (ICC) under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup sub-region qualifiers cup.

In a message released Wednesday, Chakwera appealed to all Malawians to offer the team their support as it heads to the regional finals in Rwanda.

“We are proud of their hard work and dedication to the service of their country. We are confident that they will make Malawi proud and potentially qualify for the under-19 T20 World Cup in Malaysia in 2025,” the message reads.

Malawi lifted the title in Kigali, Rwanda, after a two-wicket victory over Kenya to see them through to the next stage with six straight wins.

The result saw Malawi topping the seven-team table with a perfect record of 12 points.

Cricket Malawi President Vivek Ganesan said they were humbled with Chakwera’s gesture.

“We are all extremely inspired and encouraged. What the President has done will go a long way in motivating our young players. So, we are very grateful to him. The team needs all the support it can get so that it continues to do us proud. This is, indeed, a wonderful achievement.

“That said, we all have to continue working hard as there are bigger opportunities ahead of us, and we must mentally and physically prepare well. The regional finals start on September 20 in Kigali, Rwanda, where only one team will qualify for the ICC U-19 T20 World Cup in Malaysia 2025,” Ganesan said.

He said after returning home today, the team would take a short rest before going into camp in preparation for the regional finals.

“The team has to go back to Rwanda on September 20. It has been a great turnaround for us because during the last episode of the games in 2022, we won just one game and finished on fifth position. So, us winning two years later is an indication that our game is heading in the right direction. The structures that we have on the ground are, indeed, taking good effect,” Ganesan said.