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Cricket of Wednesday, 15 September 2004

Source: GNA

Ghana to battle for a place in cricket World Cup

Accra, March 15, GNA - The senior national cricket team would present a blend of experience and budding cricketers for the 2007 world Cup qualifiers slated for Benoni, South Africa, from March 19 through to the 26th, this year.
Botswana, Gambia, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Rwanda and Sierra Leone are the other contestants in the eight-day round robin competition aimed at increasing Africa's representation at the World Cup to four. Already, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya are the automatic choices for the continent because of their pedigree but the rest would have to battle with each other and possibly with some European and Asian countries in the "pathway" for just a single slot.
A fax message from the International Cricket Council copied to the The two top teams in each group will engage each other in a crossover semi-finals and the eventual winner in the finals match qualifies for the next stage - the Associate Members (ACP Cup) - also made of eight countries including Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
The first and second runner ups play in the pathway "4" in Ireland in July next year while the third placed team play the pathway "3" in Malaysia in February next year to find a fourth African country for the World Cup slated for the West Indies.
Ghana's 17-member contingent made up of 14 players and three officials leave the country by Wednesday vie South Africa Airlines. The officials making the trip are David Quagraine, Chairman of the Ghana Cricket Association and leader of delegation, William Hackman and Kwame Asare.
The players are Edinam Nutsuagah, Kwesi Asiedu, Rufus Ntiamoah, Francis Kofi Bakiweyem, Samson Awe Awiah, Peter Ananya and Michael Ayirewuje.
The rest are Thomas Bakiweyem, Gottfried Osei-Ofei, Francis Dake, Karim Sumaila, Mark Bawa, Kodam Kofi Anafie and Edward Foli.