Tony Munro

Sierra Leone have stuck to their successful youth policy in naming the squad to take part in the World Cricket League Africa Division Two tournament in Benoni, South Africa from April 23 to 30.

The promotion of 24-year-old all-rounder Lansana Lamin to the captaincy and the inclusion of nine members of the country's Under-19 squad further illustrate the Sierra Leone Cricket Association's (SLCA) emphasis on junior development. SLCA feel the policy has been vindicated after receiving an ICC award for 'Most Improved Cricketing Standards in Africa'.

The eight-team Sierra Leone 50-over and Twenty/20 domestic competitions have just finished and the players have been enjoying a break before the six-team Division Three tournament starts on Friday.

Abubakarr Kamara, an allrounder who captained Sierra Leone to second place in last year's Africa Under-19 titles, has been named as vice-captain of a squad which has just four players aged over 25. Sierra Leone qualified for last September's Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand but were prevented from taking part due to visa isses. The youngest member of the squad is under-15 player Abass Gbla. Thirty-year-old opener George Kpundeh will provide valuable experience.

The other teams competing in the tournament are Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia.

Sierra Leone: Lansana Lamin (Captain), Abubakarr Kamara (Vice-Captain), Emmanuel Pessima, Abass Gbla, Ibrahim Mansaray, Ibrahim Kamara, Ibrahim Kabia, Julius Quee, Brima Ansumana, Edward Marah, Mustapha Kallon, Alie John Kamara, George Kpundeh, Solomon Fatoma.

Sierra Leone earned promotion to World Cricket League (WCL) Africa Division 2 following their narrow two-wicket win over Rwanda on Wednesday.

It will be a case of the new and the old as the young Sierra Leoneans join the mature and primarily expatriate Malawians for the tournament to be held in Benoni in April.

Sierra Leone won promotion as runners-up in the WCL Division 3 tournament, following their victory over Rwanda. Gambia won the battle to avoid the wooden spoon, beating a young Lesotho team by two wickets.