Sierra Leone’s struggles at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub Regional Qualifier in Botswana continued on Tuesday 26th May 2026 after the national men’s cricket team, the Patriots, suffered a third consecutive defeat, losing to Kenya by 38 runs in another disappointing batting display.
Kenya, batting first, posted 135 runs for 5 wickets in their allotted 20 overs after applying steady pressure on the Sierra Leone bowling attack throughout the innings.
In reply, Sierra Leone once again failed to produce a convincing batting performance, finishing on 97 runs for 9 wickets in 20 overs to hand Kenya a comfortable victory.HE
The latest result further exposed Sierra Leone’s batting struggles at the tournament, with the side still unable to score 100 runs in any completed innings since the competition began.
Cricket followers and stakeholders have continued to express concerns6 over the team’s poor batting performances, which many believe have played a major role in Sierra Leone’s disappointing campaign in Botswana.
Attention has also shifted to issues surrounding team management and preparation after one of Sierra Leone’s key players, Solomon Williams, failed to travel with the squad due to passport complications.
According to sources close to the team, Mr. Williams reported to the Freetown International Airport in Lungi with the intention of travelling with the national team, only for officials to discover that his passport had less than six months validity remaining, preventing him from joining the delegation to Botswana.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from stakeholders, who described the situation as embarrassing and reflective of weak planning and administrative lapses within the leadership overseeing cricket in Sierra Leone.
With three consecutive defeats against Botswana, Cameroon, and Kenya, pressures continue to mount on Cricket Sierra Leone as concerns deepen over the declining standards of the game both on and off the field.
Sierra Leone will now turn attention to their next fixture against Rwanda, scheduled for Thursday, 28th May 2026, as the Patriots seek to secure their first victory of the tournament.
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