Accra, May 4, GNA - A 40-member continent of officials and players of the National Senior Cricket team are expected to leave for South Africa on Friday, May 6 to participate in the forthcoming International Cricket Council (ICC)-Africa Regional WCQL Division 2 tournament.

The Ghanaian team will vie for honours with eight others at the tournament to be staged from 13-19 May in Benoni, South Africa. Dr William Ampofo, President of the Ghana Cricket Association (GCA) told GNA Sports that the early departure of the team is to enable them acclimatize and fine-tune their preparations ahead of the tournament. He explained that the national senior cricket team will also benefit from a one-week high performance pre-camping training under the auspices of the ICC to sharpen any rough edges prior to the commencement of the six-day competition.

The GCA President said Ghana is paired in Pool A alongside Tanzania, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Malawi whilst Pool B consists of Botswana, Swaziland, Mozambique and Rwanda.

Dr Ampofo said that the team is fired up for the competition after months of intensive training at the Achimota Cricket Oval, adding that the best bowlers, batters and fielders have been selected for the tournament. He has therefore tasked the team to return with the ultimate trophy to showcase to all that cricket is on the rise in the country.

Ghana finished behind Zambia in a similar tournament held in 2010 in South Africa.