An entire cricket team of an African nation was suspended along with coach after their team failed to win matches in the ICC League Division Five tournament in May.
Nigeria Cricket Federation sacked the BCCI certified coach who was appointed a few month an ago.
The Africans finished sixth in the six-team tournaments in Jersey. But they started the tournament with a well deserve 6 wickets victory against Tanzania. The Nigerian team was led by Kunle Adegbola lost the remaining matches to Oman, Guernsey, Vanuatu and Jersey.
In the last they lost to the team who they defeated in their first match-Tanzania.
The host Jersey, a Britain governed country, won the tournament with 44 runs victory over Oman.
Emeka Onyeama, president of Nigeria Cricket Federation, said their team went through three phases of preparation with four players. From them, 14 best players were chosen. The Nigerian board also increased the daily allowance $50 for pre-tournament matches and $100 for tournament matches. But these allowances are comparatively low to other countries. Earlier players used to earn $25 to $50 before the board came into work.
The federation also hired a BCCI certified Indian coach Shriram Ranganathan with an intent to qualify for the fourth division. But they finished at the bottom.
Now Nigeria will start their cricket development work with U-19 boys who will don the national jersey in the next tournament –North West Africa cricket tournament.
Cricket in Africa is quite popular as British colony left the legacy. Teams like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana play the game. But only South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya have played teWorld Cup cricket and Uganda U-19 World Cup.