TANZANIA's U-19 cricket squad has opened the 2025 Easter Youth ODI Series solidly, having grabbed a three-wicket victory over Uganda U-19's squad in Kampala last Sunday.

A strong performance showcased by the Tanzania U-19 cricketers, as revealed by a Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) officer, saw them restrict Uganda U-19's figure to a modest score and later comfortably coast to the successful chase.

After opting to bowl, Tanzania U-19's bowlers set the tone early, restricting Uganda U-19 to 160 runs all out in 34.2 overs. 

Khalid Amiri led the attack with an impressive three wickets for 22 runs, while Augustine Mwamele (2/23) and Mohamed Simba (2/42) provided key breakthroughs.

Chasing 161 runs to secure victory, Tanzania U-19's batters held their nerve to get the job done in 39.1 overs. 

Simba starred with the bat, scoring a vital 41 runs off 40 balls, solidly supported by Dylan Manish (30 off 23) and Mwamele (26 off 53).

Tanzania U-19's Simba ultimately garnered the Player of the Match prize for his all-round contribution.

The TCA officer noted it was a great start to the series as the U-19 cricketers carry the momentum forward.

He appealed to Tanzanians to keep on supporting the team as it braces for another clash versus the same opponent.

Tanzania's U-19 men's cricket squad, coached by Imran Nackerdien and his assistant Rijali Fentu, is made up of Abdulrazak Mohamed, Acrey Pascal, Ally Hafidh, Agustino Mwamele, Ayaan Shariff, Azhaar Premji, and Dylan Manish.

Other cricketers are Darpan Jobanputra, Hamza Ally, Karim Kiseto, Khalid Amiri, Mohamed Imtiyaz, Mohamed Simba, Omary Koba, and Raymond Francis.

The two junior squads are shaping up for the forthcoming ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Africa Division 1 Qualifier, which will take place in Nigeria next month. 

The ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Africa Division 1 Qualifier (formerly ICC Africa U-19 Championships) is a series of regular cricket tournaments organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for Under-19 teams from its African member nations.

It is the regional qualifier for the ICC Under-19 World Cup.

The initial tournament was staged in 2001 but did not return until 2007.

During the interim years, a joint competition with the East Asia-Pacific Cricket Council was held.

A second division was added in 2009 providing affiliate nations with a chance to participate.

After the first edition, two teams were promoted, but since then only one team has moved between divisions.

The two divisions are played at different times and in different locations.

The current champions are Namibia, who won the 2023 tournament in Tanzania to qualify for the 2024 U-19 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka.

Namibia have won seven titles, the most of any team, while Uganda have won twice. 

Other teams, Kenya and Nigeria, have lifted the continental showdown's top honour once apiece.

Tanzania U-19 men’s national team beat the rest to the silverware in the ICC U-19 Men's Cricket World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifier in Dar es Salaam in August last year.

The success helped Tanzania's junior cricketers gallantly book a place in the ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifier- Division 1.

Sierra Leone and Tanzania (who qualified after winning the semi-finals), and Nigeria (who qualified after defeating Rwanda for the third-place playoff) have joined Kenya, Namibia and Uganda in the Division 1 tournament set for April 2025 in Nigeria.