| Ground Name: | Gahanga International Cricket Stadium |
| Nickname: | "Kicukiro Oval" "Rwanda Cricket Stadium" |
| Location: | Kigali City, Rwanda |
| End1: | Pavilion End |
| End2: | Plantation End |
| Broke Ground: | 2015 |
| Opened: | 2017 |
| Owner: | Government of Rwanda |
| Operator: | Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation |
| Surface: | Grass |
| Construction Cost: | US$ 1.3 million[1] |
| Project Manager: | Stephen Ogden & Co |
| Former Names: | Kicukiro Oval Rwanda Cricket Stadium |
| Seating Capacity: | 5,000-10,000 |
| International: | true |
| Firstt20idate: | 18 August |
| Firstt20iyear: | 2021 |
| Firstt20ihome: | Rwanda |
| Firstt20iaway: | Ghana |
| Lastt20idate: | 4 December |
| Lastt20iyear: | 2024 |
| Lastt20ihome: | Rwanda |
| Lastt20iaway: | Nigeria |
| Firstwt20idate: | 18 June |
| Firstwt20iyear: | 2019 |
| Firstwt20ihome: | Tanzania |
| Firstwt20iaway: | Uganda |
| Lastwt20idate: | 8 June |
| Lastwt20iyear: | 2024 |
| Lastwt20ihome: | Botswana |
| Lastwt20iaway: | Kenya |
| Date: | 4 December |
| Year: | 2024 |
| Source: | http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/ground/1151242.html ESPNcricinfo |
| Ground Name: | Gahanga B Ground |
| Location: | Kigali City, Rwanda |
| Owner: | Government of Rwanda |
| Operator: | Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation |
| Surface: | Grass |
| International: | true |
| Firstwt20idate: | 31 May |
| Firstwt20iyear: | 2024 |
| Firstwt20ihome: | Nigeria |
| Firstwt20iaway: | Uganda |
| Lastwt20idate: | 2 November |
| Lastwt20iyear: | 2024 |
| Lastwt20ihome: | Rwanda |
| Lastwt20iaway: | Kenya |
| Date: | 2 November |
| Year: | 2024 |
| Source: | https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricket-grounds/gahanga-b-ground-rwanda-1435506 ESPNcricinfo |
Rwanda Cricket Stadium, also known as Kicukiro Oval, is a cricket ground in Kigali, Rwanda. The stadium is officially titled the Gahanga International Cricket Stadium.[2] [3] The ground is Rwanda's first dedicated international cricket ground and has quickly became a prominent ground in African cricket.
In August 2011, the Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation was formed as a charity, run on a not for profit basis, with the aim of building and managing the first ever dedicated international cricket ground in Rwanda. The ground was completed in March 2017.[4] It is located on a 4.5hectare site on the edge of Kigali, Rwanda's capital.[5] [6] [7] [8]
The charity is run by a team of cricket enthusiasts from the UK and Rwanda in partnership with the Marylebone Cricket Club Foundation.
In 2012, West Indian cricketing great Brian Lara[9] agreed to become one of the ground's patrons. The stadium is also supported by former British Prime Minister David Cameron, Andrew Mitchell, Jonathan Agnew, Heather Knight, Peter Gummer, Baron Chadlington[10] [11]
In 2016, Rwanda captain Eric Dusingizimana achieved a Guinness World Record for batting 51 continuous hours at Amaharo Stadium in Remera. This was done to raise funds for the construction of the ground.[12]
Once opened, the ground quickly gained prominence in African cricket and hosted various ICC events. In 2018, the ground was selected to host the matches in the 2018–19 ICC World Twenty20 Africa Qualifier Eastern Sub-Region group.[6] [7] [8] Once all associate members were given T20I status in 2019, the ground hosted its first T20I on 18 August 2021.[13] [14]
The stadium also hosted the 2019 Kwibuka Women's T20 Tournament,[15] a women's cricket tournament, in remembrance of the victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.[16] Their successful hosting of multi-national tournaments during peak COVID-19 pandemic following the safety protocols had led to being given more tournaments subsequently.
In November 2022, the ground surpassed the Harare Sports Club as the cricket oval to host the most T20I matches in Africa.[17]
The following notable events were hosted here with ICC International Status:
Five T20I centuries have been scored at the venue.[18]
| No. | Score | Player | Team | Balls | Opposing team | Innings | Date | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100* | Orchide Tuyisenge | 60 | 1 | |||||
| 2 | 104 | Francisco Couana | 51 | 1 | |||||
| 3 | 100 | Vinoo Balakrishnan | 70 | 1 | |||||
| 4 | 107* | Obed Harvey | 54 | 1 | |||||
| 5 | 100* | 58 | 1 |
Six T20I five-wicket haul has been taken at this venue.[19]
| Figures | Player | Country | Innings | Opponent | Date | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5/23 | 1 | ||||||
| 2 | 5/9 | Kofi Bagabena | 1 | |||||
| 3 | 5/26 | Rexford Bakum | 2 | |||||
| 4 | 5/19 | Francisco Couana | 2 | |||||
| 5 | 5/9 | Sylvester Okpe | 1 | |||||
| 6 | 5/29 | Richmond Baaleri | 2 |
Five WT20I centuries have been scored at the venue.[20]
| No. | Score | Player | Team | Balls | Opposing team | Innings | Date | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 116 | Prosscovia Alako | 71 | 1 | |||||
| 2 | 103* | 61 | 1 | ||||||
| 3 | 114* | 81 | 1 | ||||||
| 4 | 108* | 71 | 1 | ||||||
| 5 | 100 | Prosscovia Alako | 63 | 1 |
Five WT20I five-wicket haul has been taken at this venue.[21]
| Figures | Player | Country | Innings | Opponent | Date | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5/0 | Nasra Saidi | 2 | |||||
| 2 | 5/12 | Sarah Wetoto | 1 | |||||
| 3 | 6/16 | Sarah Wetoto | 1 | |||||
| 4 | 6/7 | Lillian Udeh | 2 | |||||
| 5 | 5/17 | Henriette Ishimwe | 1 |