Nigeria’s men’s senior cricket team, affectionately known as the Yellow Greens, has made an impressive climb in the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 rankings.
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They have surged from the 42nd position to the 38th position globally and are now the seventh-ranked team in Africa.
The Yellow Greens’ remarkable progress can be attributed to their stellar performance at the West Africa Trophy tournament held in Lagos. In this competition, they showcased their dominance by winning all ten of their matches against formidable opponents from Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Rwanda, ultimately claiming the coveted title.
In their last 25 games, the Yellow Greens accumulated an impressive 1,860 points, earning them a rating of 74. Among African nations, Nigeria now trails behind South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Meanwhile, India leads the global rankings with a formidable rating of 265 from 61 matches.
Uyi Akpata, the President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, expressed his enthusiasm about the team’s progress and future aspirations.
He highlighted the remarkable trajectory of the female cricket team, which has ascended from the 38th to the 30th position in the world.
The female team secured a significant victory at an invitational event and is set to participate in the World Cup qualifier in mid-December, with high hopes of earning a spot in the ICC T20 World Cup for women.
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The Yellow Greens are now focused on the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier, scheduled to take place from November 20 to December 1 in Namibia. This presents a valuable opportunity for them to further improve their ranking and continue their ascent in the global cricket scene.
In women’s cricket, Nigeria’s Female Yellow Greens hold the 30th position in the world and are currently the 8th-ranked team in Africa.
They are outperformed by South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Rwanda. Australia leads the pack in the women’s T20 rankings.
The female team has its sights set on securing a place at the 2024 WT20 World Cup, and it will strive for this goal when it competes in the qualifiers in Uganda in December.
Furthermore, they will return home for the Nigeria Cricket Federation Women International Invitational tournament in February, providing them with valuable preparation and exposure.
Both the Yellow Greens and the Female Yellow Greens are set to participate in the inaugural edition of cricket inclusion at the Africa Games, scheduled for March 2024 in Ghana.
This presents an exciting opportunity for Nigerian cricket to further establish itself on the continental stage and continue its upward trajectory in the sport.