Botswana to develop all-citizen national squad

Botswana Cricket Association (BCA) plans to construct an academy at the Gaborone Cricket Club to develop young talent and boost the bid to have an all-citizen team.

Currently, the men?s team is built up of expats who have stayed in the country for at least seven years. Sumod Damodar, BCA Spokesperson, said on Mmegi Online: "Our focus is to ensure that only citizens represent the national team and we will only fill in with foreigners when there is a shortfall. But selection will be based on merit."

Damodar said that as its long-term strategy, BCA plans to send players to countries such as South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya for training purposes and participation in domestic leagues. The focus will be on U11 and U13 leagues since the players targeted are mostly from government schools.

He said: "We are cognisant of the fact that we have to give these children exposure at a tender age. It is quite crucial."