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Cricket Kenya names 14-man squad for 2026 ILT20 Continental Cup in Rwanda
29th August, 2026 09:12 AM
Cricket Kenya have named a 14-man squad for the 2026 ILT20 Continental Cup in Rwanda, with Dhiren Gondaria appointed captain. The squad was named on Friday, August 28, 2026, at the Ruaraka Sports Club as the national team prepares for the tournament in Rwanda.
The selected squad consists of Dhiren Gondaria (captain), Gurdeep Singh, Sukhdeep Singh, Sachin Gill, Rakep Patel, Brian Likavu, Shem Ngoche, Francis Mutua, Lucas Ndandason, Vishil Patel, Peter Koech, Nitish Hirani, Gerald Muthui and Rushab Patel.
Yash Talati and Thomas Ochieng have been named as reserves.
The ILT20 Continental Cup will feature eight nations, with the tournament running in Rwanda through the first half of September. The competition uses a single round-robin league format, with the top four teams progressing to the semi-finals.
Ahead of the tournament, Cricket Kenya Chairman Bhavesh Gohil hailed the selection committee, before revealing that the new new office has already cleared players’ salary arrears of six months, just four months after he took office.
“I would like to thank the selection committee for the great job they have to assemble the team that will fly the country’s flag at the 2026 ILT20 in Rwanda. Since we came into office, we have made some notable achievements, among them clearing the players’ salary arrears of six months in just four months in office. I have also today, presented the team with a crucial balling machine that costs close to a million Kenyan shillings to enhance the team’s training.” Gohil said on Friday, August 28, 2026.
On his side, the teams head coach Joseph Angara expressed optimism in the squad, adding that the team is ready to battle it out in Rwanda.
“I think we have a good squad going into the ILT20 in Rwanda, the squad is very much balanced, and we are looking forward to do well. Second, I just want to thank the Chairman Cricket Kenya for having given us the balling machine, this is one of the things that we have been wanting to get, now we are happy.” Angara said.
Team captain Dhiren Gondaria also predicted a great outing in Rwanda. “Guys are very much confident, very much prepared, and with the support of the Board, we will try to give our best.” He added.
Kenya’s ILT20 Continental Cup fixtures
Kenya will play seven league matches, beginning against Nigeria on September 3 and concluding against Malawi on September 11, 2026.
Kenya will open their campaign against Nigeria on Thursday, September 3, 2026, in the afternoon. The match is scheduled for 2:00 pm at Gahanga B Oval in Kigali.
Kenya’s second fixture comes the following day when they face Tanzania.
The match will be played on Friday, September 4,2926 at 9:30 am, with Gahanga B Oval serving as the venue.
Kenya will then take on Sierra Leone on Saturday, September 5,2026.
The fixture is scheduled for 1:30 pm at Gahanga Main Oval.
After three matches in three days, Kenya will have a rest day on September 6 before returning to action on September 7,2026. Kenya’s fourth league match will be against Botswana on Monday, September 7, 2026. The game is scheduled for 9:30am at Gahanga B Oval.
The Kenyans will face tournament hosts Rwanda the next day. The match will take place on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 1:30pm at Gahanga Main Oval.
Kenya’s sixth league fixture is against defending champions Uganda on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. The match is scheduled for 9:30am at Gahanga B Oval. Uganda enter the competition as two-time champions, having won the first two editions in 2023 and 2024.
Kenya will conclude the league stage against Malawi on Friday, September 11,2026. The final group match is scheduled for 9:30am at Gahanga B Oval.
There is then another rest day on September 10, 2026, before the final round of league matches.
Possible semi-final and final
Kenya’s campaign could continue beyond the seven league matches if they finish among the top four.
The semi-finals are scheduled for September 12,2026, at Gahanga B Oval, with the first semi-final at 9:00 am and the second at 1:30 pm. The first-placed team will face fourth place, while second place will meet third.
The final is scheduled for September 13,2026 at 1:00 pm at Gahanga Main Oval, although Kenya’s participation would depend on qualifying for the championship match.
Final, if qualified – Gahanga main oval
Kenya therefore face a demanding opening stretch, with three matches in as many days from September 3 to 5,2026, before completing the league campaign with four more fixtures between September 7 and 11, 2026. The team will be aiming to finish in the top four and secure a place in the knockout phase.
