THE Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) is all out to ensure there is a cultural shift in the sport's administration to uplift the game's standards in the country.

Balakrishna Sreekumar, TCA chairman, said at the opening of the 2025 ICC Africa Region Members Conference in Dar es Salaam last weekend.

The two-day conference attracted cricket leaders and the game's stakeholders from across Africa for strategic dialogue, workshops, and collaborations focused on accelerating the growth of cricket across the continent.

Sreekumar affirmed that the TCA is eager to make a cultural shift in the way cricket is administered and played in the country.

The TCA boss said his association has realized cricket has, over the years, somehow not enjoyed the prominence it deserves in many African countries including Tanzania.

He was adamant what has essentially been required is a cultural shift, and in the previous one and a half years, a lot of effort has been put into realising the cultural shift.

According to Sreekumar, TCA has gone for a three-phase development project, namely, infrastructure, developing the support staff, and development of all national cricket teams.

Without infrastructure, the official pointed out, the sport can hardly develop.

He disclosed the association has set up an ambitious plan aiming at constructing modern cricket grounds, new academies, training centres, and hostels for the national teams.

He stated when the current TCA leadership came to power, it looked at the number of certified cricket coaches and umpires in the country and was shocked by the revelations.

According to him, the body has gone for an aggressive initiative that will see the country boast many certified cricket coaches and umpires as of this year.

Sreekumar revealed there is a variety of requirements for five national cricket teams and TCA is taking a look at all of them.

He expressed his appreciation to Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan for offering inspiration to TCA, adding the President is a sports enthusiast who keeps an eye on the happenings in various sporting activities and is abreast of cricket development and is moreover at the forefront of supporting them.

He appreciated National Sports Council (NSC) secretary general Neema Msitha, who was the guest of honour, for closely working with TCA in developing the sport.

He was optimistic there would, in the conference's two days, be plenty of deliberations and discussion culminating in practical, realistic goals that cricket in Africa is embedded in and try to develop the sport on the continent.

Neema revealed that the government sets up policies and creates a good environment for national sports associations and clubs to prosper.

The NSC official acknowledged efforts by the ICC and Africa Cricket Association (ACA) to develop cricket on the continent and confirmed Tanzania's government is comfortably working with TCA.

She revealed that Tanzania's government appreciates what the ICC and the continental cricket governing body are doing, adding the authority has been observing the tremendous change concerning the development of cricket in Africa.

Neema pointed out: "We know cricket is making headway in Tanzania because they (TCA) get big support from ICC and ACA.

''The role of the government is setting up, making policies and creating a good environment for national sports associations and clubs to prosper.”

She added: "It normally becomes difficult for a country to support associations that are not practising what the government really needs to see them do...in Tanzania, the government is comfortably working with TCA, and it has been enjoying this for the past one and a half years under Sreekumar's leadership.”

According to Neema, the TCA leadership has been doing well because it has understood and successfully translated the government's wish to practice the pillars of good governance.

Neema noted: "We are observing transparency, accountability, creativity, and that is why the government is now fully engaged in (cricket promotion) in Tanzania."

She added that since independence, Tanzania has been hosting inter-school sports tournaments and, for the first time, cricket is, from this year, one of the sports to be completed for in the tournaments, namely UMITASHUMTA and UMISSETA.

The NSC official stated: "Cricket has also been included in the schools' curriculum. The government has moreover handed over enough land to TCA for the construction of two grounds in Dar es Salaam and Iringa because the government believes with the construction of the venues, pupils, students, and other kids will participate in this sport given they will have a good environment for them to practice."

She added: "The government is looking forward to providing TCA with land for the construction of a hostel for training camps for national teams and other outfits which will feature in various international tournaments."

The day witnessed in-depth discussions on ICC Development Priorities, the future of cricket at the All-Africa Games, and the exciting ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 Legacy Program.

Sessions focused on integrity, high performance, and development that left delegates inspired, energized, and connected.

The opening day was about unity, vision, and laying down foundations for a brighter cricketing future across Africa.

From inspirational speeches to meaningful discussions, a TCA official noted, the spirit of African cricket shone brighter than ever on the opening day. 

International Cricket Council (ICC) Associate Members chairman Mubashir Usmani, ACA interim chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani, and the NSC secretary general offered warm welcomes to the conference's delegates.

There was also a presentation of mementoes to dignitaries, celebrating their contribution to cricket’s growth in Africa.

There was further a memorable moment as Tanzania's U-19 cricketers, who have progressed to the 2026 ICC U-19 Men's Cricket World Cup, were introduced and honoured with jersey presentations at the occasion.