Samantha Agazuma to lead Nigeria in the Kwibuka T20 tournament

The Nigeria Cricket Federation, on Saturday (May 29) announced a 15-member squad that will travel to Rwanda for the six-team Kwibuka T20 tournament to be played between June 6-12. The side will be led by 26-year-old batter Samantha Agazuma who was in charge of the unit during the 2019 event as well.



Blessing Etim, Nigeria's highest run-getter in T20Is, and their only half-centurion at the international level, will no doubt be their key batter, while Agazuma and Salome Sunday will be expected to work as her lieutenants.



With the ball, Agatha Obulor, who has taken 12 wickets in the format, will play an important role, alongside Etim and Mary Desmond.



Uncapped teenager Lucky Piety, the only woman in Nigeria to register a century at any level, earned her maiden call up after impressing the coaching staff with her performances in early January-February this year. If she makes her debut in the tournament, she will be the youngest player to represent Nigeria at the international level.



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NCF began preparation for the Kwibuka T20 tournament with a group of 40 players, before pruning it down to 22. The camps took place in Abuja, before the final squad of 15 was announce on Sunday. They will depart for Rwanda on Thursday (June 3).



Nigeria are placed alongside Kenya and Namibia in Group B and will kick off their campaign against the former on the opening day before facing Namibia on June 7.



Teams from each group will face each other twice, with the topper of each qualifying for the final on June 12. All matches will be played at the Gahanga Cricket Stadium in Kigali.



Squad: Samantha Agazuma (C), Blessing Etim, Omonye Asika, Agatha Obulor, Favour Eseigbe, Rechael Samson, Kehinde Abdulquadri, Abigail Igbobie, Salome Sunday, Miracle Imimole, Mary Desmond, Esther Sandy, Joy Efosa, Lucky Piety, Blessing Nwobodo



Standbys: Omonkhobhio Oseyande, George Chinyenum