TCA LAUNCHES APL

Source: THE CITIZEN - Tanzania

The Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) today launches Advanced Players League (APL) to kick-start a campaign for next year's World Cup League Division 4 to be held in Italy. 

TCA Chairman Zulfikar Rhemtullah said yesterday that after flopping in the previous World Cup qualifying series, the introduction of the APL is one of the major strategies to see Tanzania excelling in the global ICC event. 

"Through the APL, we shall select a provisional squad, which will intensively groom players for the Italian event", said Rhemtullah. 

The league, according to him, will see best players from all clubs competing in a four-pool formatted lucrative event. 

With a view to improving the performance of the local players, TCA has also invited four guest players, who will each be fielded in every pool. 

"We want these guest players to boost morale of the local players as well as sharing experience among themselves", said Rhemtullah. 

The four Indian guest players have already arrived in the country for their two-month presence stint in the league. They are Prashant Gawde, Santosh Cahavan, Sudhir Kinalekar and Swapnil Salve. 

Rhemtullah said the provisional squad to be prepared for the Italian event will include the trio of Khalil Rhemtullah, Athuman Kakonzi and national team skipper, Hamis Abdallah who are now undergoing their professionalism stint in the UK with Watford premier league club. 

He said TCA plans to take more local cricketers for trainings in overseas. The cricketers include a top order batsman and a spinner in bawling, Benson Mwita.

Mwita was selected an outstanding player in 2005�s World Cup qualifiers for Africa held in South Africa. This event saw Tanzania emerging Plate winners. 

Tanzania flopped in various ICC World Cup qualifying series including that of last year's World Cup Division 4 for Africa held in Dar es Salaam, which involved Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Italy, Jersey and Fiji. 

The Under-19 national team squad also flopped recently in the World Cup qualifiers whose finals will take place next year in the Kenyan capital city of Nairobi. 

The APL, which will be played weekly starting this Saturday, will be inaugurated today at the British Council in Dar es Salaam.