The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has announced that the fifth edition of the Nigeria Invitational Women’s T20 International (WT20i) tournament will be renamed the Patricia Kambarami Cup in honour of the late cricket development pioneer Patricia Kambarami.
The tournament is scheduled to take place from 18 to 29 March 2026 at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval in Lagos.
The decision celebrates Kambarami’s immense contribution to the growth and development of cricket across Africa.
This year’s edition will also feature a notable innovation with the introduction of two youth teams for the first time.
South Africa Women Under-19 and Zimbabwe Women Under-19 will participate in the tournament, providing a platform for emerging talents to compete alongside established senior national sides.
They will join Nigeria, Rwanda and Ghana in what promises to be an exciting competition in Lagos.
With a blend of youth and senior teams and a new identity honouring one of Africa’s foremost cricket administrators, the tournament is expected to deliver thrilling action as teams compete for the prestigious Patricia Kambarami Cup.
Patricia Kambarami was a highly respected cricket administrator and served as the Regional Development Manager for Africa at the International Cricket Council (ICC) until her passing in May 2024.
The Zimbabwean sports administrator played a pivotal role in expanding cricket development across Africa.
Before joining the ICC in 2017, she served as Chief Operating Officer of the Titans Cricket Team and also worked in development at Cricket South Africa.
During her tenure with the ICC, Kambarami oversaw several growth initiatives across emerging cricket nations, with countries such as Nigeria and Rwanda benefiting from expanded development programmes.
Her dedication to the sport and tireless efforts in promoting cricket across Africa earned her the affectionate nickname “Mama Africa.”
Renaming the tournament in her honour ensures that her legacy continues to inspire the next generation of cricketers across the continent.
