Tanzania made history by defeating Nigeria to secure their first-ever spot in the U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup. They went unbeaten in five matches to clinch the African regional qualification for the tournament set for next year.

Under the leadership of Laksh Bakrania, Tanzania wrapped up their qualification with a victory over Sierra Leone, finishing with a flawless 10 points. This achievement also meant they outperformed favorites Namibia (with eight points) and Kenya (with six).

Tanzania is the first team to qualify through the regional pathway and had only entered the competition from the Division 2 phase in August 2024.

Bakrania, who also plays at the senior international level, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome. He gained international recognition in 2021 and against Sierra Leone, he took two wickets in 10 overs while conceding just 17 runs. Additionally, he made a valuable contribution with the bat, scoring 34 runs, leading his team to a 17-run victory.

Tanzania's captain: "I'm at a loss for words"

After securing their qualification, he expressed his disbelief, saying, “I’m at a loss for words; it’s incredible that we’ve made it to the World Cup for the first time ever.”

“This is a monumental moment for Tanzania, thanks to the dedication of our team and the unwavering support from the Tanzania Cricket Association.”

He continued, “At the 2026 World Cup, we’ll give it our all to compete with other top nations.”

Prior to Tanzania's qualification, ten teams had already secured their spots automatically. These teams include the highest-ranked full member nations from the last tournament: Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies. Additionally, Zimbabwe qualified automatically as the host nation.

There are still four spots up for grabs, with one available in each of the remaining regional finals. The teams from Asia and East-Pacific will be finalized in April, while the European and Americas teams will be determined in August.

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