Laura Mophakedi to captain 15-member Botswana in Kwibuka T20 Tournament

Laura Mophakedi will captain the 15-member Botswana squad in the Kwibuka T20 Tournament, the Botswana Cricket Association announced on Friday (May 28). Mophakedi replaces Goabilwe Matome, who is not part of the squad, as the skipper. Matome is also one of the most experienced players in Botswana and is their fourth-leading run-getter.



Botswana last played a bilateral series at home against Kenya in 2019, going down 4-1 in the seven-match series with two washed out matches. Banyana Gaanamong and Mimmie Ramafifi, who were part of the team then, also miss out. Tebogo Motlhabaphuti, Collin Mokibelo, Jacqueline Kgang and Tebagano Ditshotlo have received their maiden call-ups to the national side.



Mophakedi heads the run-charts for Botswana and she will be assisted by Florence Samanyka, who is the vice-captain as well as the second-leading run-getter. They could also feel the absence of Ramafifi, who has ten T20I wickets for them, the second-most after Botsogo Mpedi’s 16. Mpedi is the only player to pick a five-wicket haul for Botswana in T20Is.



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Sumod Damodar, Secretary of the BCA, said the team have been training for quite a while, even playing a few intra-squad matches in preparation for the tournament.



Botswana will face Uganda on June 7 in their first clash in the Kwibuka T20 Tournament, which is a competition to pay homage to the genocide victims of 1994. The competition starts from June 6 with the final to be played on June 12.



Squad: Laura Mophakedi (c), Florence Samanyika (vc), Shameelah Mosweu, Botho Freeman, Jacqueline Kgang, Amantle Mokgotlhe, Tebogo Motlhabaphuti, Botsogo Mpedi, Bontle Mademabe (wk), Tuelo Shadrack, Onneile Keitsemang, Precious Modimo, Collin Mokibelo, Thapelo Modise, Tebagano Ditshotlo