Rwanda ladies's cricket star Gisele Ishimwe departed for the UK on Sunday for a second stint with Odiham Cricket Membership, the place she is going to spend the following three months competing within the Hampshire League.
The 21-year-old left only a day after the conclusion of the Kwibuka Girls's T20I Match 2026 in Kigali.
Ishimwe performed a key function in Rwanda's run to the ultimate, the place the hosts suffered a heartbreaking one-run defeat to eventual champions Zimbabwe HPC at Gahanga Cricket Stadium on Saturday, June 20.
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She had initially been anticipated to journey alongside teammate Henriette Ishimwe, who was named Participant of the Match, however the all-rounder was unable to make the journey after her visa utility was unsuccessful.
“I'm going to the UK to play for the membership I joined final 12 months and proceed my common coaching,” Ishimwe instructed Instances Sport earlier than her departure. “I'll return in September.”
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The journey comes shortly after one other main milestone in her profession.
Throughout the Kwibuka match, Ishimwe turned solely the second Rwandan girl to surpass 2,000 Girls's T20 Worldwide runs, taking her tally to 2,026 runs in 117 matches and additional cementing her place among the many nation's most completed batters.
Claudine Uwase, Director of Girls's Cricket Improvement on the Rwanda Cricket Federation, stated the chance displays the speedy progress of ladies's cricket in Rwanda.
“It’s encouraging to see ladies's cricket attain a degree the place our gamers can entry alternatives overseas to proceed creating their expertise,” Uwase stated.
“Our gamers have the expertise and the power to compete. We want Gisele the easiest and hope she continues to showcase her power. We can be supporting her all through.”
The federation believes Ishimwe's newest stint in England will additional improve her improvement forward of Rwanda's upcoming worldwide assignments whereas inspiring extra native gamers to pursue skilled alternatives abroad.
Ishimwe first joined Odiham Cricket Membership in 2025, changing into the primary Rwandan cricketer to signal for the English membership. Her return underlines each her rising fame and the growing recognition of Rwandan ladies's cricket on the worldwide stage.
