East Africa Cup Explained

Tournament Name:East Africa Cup
Country:Kenya, Uganda
Headquarters:Nairobi, Kenya
Administrator:Cricket Kenya
Cricket Format:50–over
First:2011-12
Last:2013
Next:2014
Tournament Format:Double round-robin and Knockout
Participants:6
Champions: Rwenzori Warriors (1st title)
Most Successful: Kongonis
Coast Pekee
Rwenzori Warriors (1 title)
Most Runs: Rakep Patel (346)[1]
Most Wickets: Mitesh Sanghani (19)[2]

The East Africa Cup (EAC) is one of two domestic cricket competitions launched by Cricket Kenya in the aftermath of the Kenya national cricket team's disastrous showing at the 2011 Cricket World Cup.[3] It is a 50 over competition that features 6 franchises, 4 from Kenya and 2 from Uganda, that compete against each other home and away in a league before the two teams that come top in the league square off in a final. Its main objective is to improve the standard of the cricket played in Kenya, and spark a revival on the international stage once again.

Tournament history

The tournament was started in the wake of Kenya's disastrous 2011 Cricket World Cup campaign. Its main aim is to develop the standard of cricket both in Kenya and Uganda. This idea was first believed to be mooted by Cricket Kenya CEO Tom Sears.

2011-12 season

See main article: article. This was the first running of the East Africa Cup and despite, some dominating performances in the group stage, Rwenzori Warriors, of Uganda came unstuck in the final versus Kongonis[4]

2012 season

See main article: article. This edition saw Coast Pekee totally reverse their fortunes from the previous tournament and emerge winners against Ruwenzori Warriors in the final.

2013 season

See main article: article. This was launched on the 7th of August 2013 and ran from the second week of August until the second week of September. The tournament was won by Rwenzori Warriors.

Franchises

4 Teams from Kenya plus two teams from Uganda has been taking part in the tournament. They are as follows:-[5] [6]

Team NameProvinceSponsorsCaptainHead Coach
align=left Rising Stars ChuisNairobi Province Cricket AssociationRising Star Commodities Collins Obuya Sibtain Kassamali
align=left Express NdovuNairobi Province Cricket AssociationExpress Kenya Rakep Patel Peter Ongondo
align=left Sameer SimbasNairobi Province Cricket AssociationSameer Group Morris Ouma Martin Suji
align=left I & M NyatisNairobi Province Cricket AssociationI & M Bank Tanmay Mishra Lameck Onyango
align=left Rwenzori WarriorsUganda Lawrence Sematimba
align=left Nile KnightsUganda Davis ArinaitweMartin Suji
[7]

Broadcasting rights

Initially, SuperSport became the broadcast partner for Cricket Kenya, and was broadcast the inaugural East African competitions which was a big boost for the tournament.[8] Following the success of the inaugural tournaments, SuperSport extended their deal with the board to another two years to broadcast the tournament till 2013.[9]

Results

Season! style="width:0;"
WinnersRunners-upTeams
2011-12 Nile Knights6
2012 Rwenzori Warriors6

Notes and References

  1. http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=6776;type=tournament Records / East African Cup, 2011/12 / Most runs
  2. http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=6776;type=tournament Records / East African Cup, 2011/12 / Most wickets
  3. Web site: Kenya prepare for new superleagues. Martin Williamson. ESPN cricinfo. 2011-10-02.
  4. http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/527588.html Kongonis v Nile Knights at Nairobi (Gym) - Jan 29, 2012 Kongonis won by 84 runs
  5. http://cricket-kenya.com/index.php?page=news&subpage=cricket&gid=192 Cricket Kenya Launches New Regional Competitions
  6. http://cricket-kenya.com/index.php?page=news&subpage=cricket&gid=194 Cricket Kenya Launches New Regional Competitions
  7. Cricket Kenya unveil new look East Africa show http://cricketkenya.co.ke/news_details.php?news_id=108 Retrieved 17-08-2013
  8. http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/broadcast_boost_for_new_cricket_competitions/ Broadcast boost for new cricket competitions
  9. http://www.espncricinfo.com/kenya/content/story/549274.html Supersport extends deal to cover East Africa competitions