CRICKET TEAM FETED: Triumphant girls talk of how they won Women’s Cup in UAE

Seated from left- Senior Deputy Secretary Ministry of Sport, Culture and the Arts Saima Ondimu, Captain Women Cricket Kenya team Daisy Njoroge display and Jackie Jan Mohamed Chairperson Cricket Kenya with trophy Kenya won during the UAE International Women T20 Cup 2016. Dec 21, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

The desire to change women’s cricket inspired the national team to victory at the just-concluded International Twenty20 Women’s Cup in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

The Kenyan girls beat their hosts by five wickets to win their first ever international tournament outside the continent.

National team captain Daisy Wairimu said they played their hearts out with the trophy as their main objective.

“We all wanted this victory because we all have a common goal of changing women’s cricket in Kenya,” Wairimu said during a luncheon held in their honour yesterday. “And we believe that we can only achieve that by winning because no one wants to be associated with failure,”

Wairimu said that their semi-final tie against Uganda was the toughest. She lauded Esther Wangari for her courage in the match which they won by a wicket.

“Credit goes to Wangari for her courage. She is a player we rely on because she never succumbs to pressure no matter how tense the situation is,” she said. “We believe in playing to the last ball and even after the fall of several wickets, Wangari stood out when it mattered most.”

Wairimu added that they are determined to get the change they are yearning for.

“This is just the beginning, we play because we are very passionate about the game and until women’s cricket changes to what we want it to be, we will not rest.”

She said that their main challenge now is exposure.

“We need to play more international matches so that we can gain the experience needed to compete in high profile tournaments.

“The fact that half the team members are based in Nakuru and the other half in Nairobi has made it very difficult to gel as we meet weeks or a month to competition.” Wairimu said Cricket Kenya (CK) should consider giving contracts to the players.

“CK should consider contracting us because unlike the men’s team players whose lives revolve around cricket, to us the game comes second to work and school.

“With contracts, we can make a career out of the sport and concentrate on performance,” she said.

Jackie Janmohammed, the Cricket Kenya chair who organised the luncheon urged them to be committed. “I see potential but we need commitment from you,” Jackie said. “All I am asking is that you make cricket your priority and the management and I will ensure that you play international matches so you can gain the exposure.”

Jackie gave each player 100 dollars and dedicated the trophy to Emily Ruto, the late national team captain who was so passionate about cricket that she was known as ChepCricket.

Vanessa Adhiambo, the Player of the Match against Uganda received an extra 100 dollars while Mary Wambui, who was the tournament best player also got another 200 dollars.