By Bockarie Allieu _____
The technical committee of Cricket Sierra Leone after series of training and trail matches have finally released the final list of 14 U-19 players for the ICC U-19 Division 2 WC Qualifier in Tanzania.
According to the committee, with the head coach of the team they took a critical look at the performance and behavior of all the players before they did the final selection of the 14 players.
Among key things they look at in their performance was players that can bat, bowl and field well (all-rounders). The rest of the criteria they look at players who are extra good in batting and bowling.
Fielding, they said should be key priority for all the players to be active during fielding stopping all balls from going to the boundary.
The other key thing the technical committee advised the selected players on was unity and focus during matches. Sierra Leone falls in group in group A together with Rwanda, Botswana and Malawi.
In that group, two teams will qualify for the semi-final stage. Sierra Leone will play first match against Rwanda on the 3rd August 2024.
In the semi-final matches, the winners will play in the final match for the first and second positions. The losers will play for the third place trophy and the bronze medals. The first, second and third place countries will automatically qualify for the division 1 stage of the World Cup qualifier.
Sierra Leone will depart on the 29th of July 2024, and they will arrive in Tanzania on the 30th of July 2024. On the 1st of August, the teams will practice with a photoshoot of the captains and a press briefing on the tournament.
