Lagos: Tanzania have made history by securing their first-ever qualification for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, following an impressive unbeaten streak in the African regional qualifiers held in Nigeria. The team’s success was spearheaded by senior international Laksh Bakrania, whose leadership and all-round performance were pivotal in their triumph.
The Tanzanian team emerged victorious in all five of their matches, culminating in a decisive victory against Sierra Leone. This flawless performance earned them a perfect 10 points, surpassing rivals Namibia, who finished with eight points, and Kenya, with six points, to claim the coveted World Cup spot.
Notably, this achievement marks the first time Tanzania has qualified through the regional qualification pathways. Their journey began in the Division Two phase back in August 2024, making their accomplishment even more significant.
Laksh Bakrania, who has a history of strong performances against Namibia, once again proved crucial by taking 2/17 in ten overs and contributing 34 runs with the bat. These efforts helped secure a 17-run victory over Namibia, setting the stage for subsequent wins against Kenya and Sierra Leone.
The team’s qualification sparked celebrations, with an emotional Bakrania expressing his disbelief and pride. “I am lost for words and it’s unbelievable that we have qualified for the World Cup for the first time in our history,” he remarked. He credited the team’s hard work and the support from the Tanzania Cricket Association for their success.
As the 12th team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, Tanzania joins 10 automatically qualified Full Member nations and hosts Zimbabwe. Four additional spots remain open, to be contested in upcoming regional finals across Asia, East Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Americas.