Cricket has a long history in Africa, with the sport being popular in many countries in the region. However, despite the strong presence of cricket in Africa, most countries on the continent have not yet achieved significant success on the international stage. In recent years, however, there has been an increase in the number of African countries making their mark in the world of cricket. A total of 23 countries in the region have International Cricket Council (ICC) Status, indicating that they have a proper structure in place to play international cricket. The Africa Cricket Association, which was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Benoni, South Africa, is responsible for managing cricket in the region. In this article, we have compiled a list of the top ten best cricket teams in Africa or the countries.
Best Cricket Teams in Africa
| Name | Ranking | Change |
| Sierra Leone | 10 | -1🥶 |
| Malawi | 9 | +1🥵🥵 |
| Botswana | 8 | 0🥵 |
| Nigeria | 7 | 0🥵 |
| Tanzania | 6 | 0🥵 |
| Kenya | 5 | 0🥵 |
| Uganda | 4 | 0🥵 |
| Namibia | 3 | 0🥵 |
| Zimbabwe | 2 | 0🥵 |
| South Africa | 1 | 0🥵 |
📉10. Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone’s national cricket team is making impressive progress in the African region. And is considered one of the fastest-growing teams in the area. The team has achieved Twenty20 International (T20I) status from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and reached its highest T20I ranking of 54th on May 2, 2022. Sierra Leone was granted ICC membership in 2002 and is currently coached by Solomon Fatoma, with George Ngegba serving as captain. With their strong performances and potential for continued success, the Sierra Leone cricket team is a formidable opponent for any team they face.
📈9. Malawi
The Malawi national cricket team is one of the fastest-growing teams in Africa, having achieved Twenty20 International (T20I) status from the International Cricket Council (ICC). The team’s best T20I ranking to date is 50th, which they achieved on May 2, 2022. Malawi received its ICC status in 2003 and is currently coached by Andre Botha, with Moazzam Baig serving as captain. The team is showing promise and has the potential for continued success on the international stage.
📈8.Botswana
The Botswana national cricket team is a rapidly-growing team in Africa, having achieved Twenty20 International (T20I) status from the International Cricket Council (ICC). The team reached its highest T20I ranking of 30th on May 2, 2019, and received its ICC status in 2001. The current coach of the team is Joseph Angara, with Karabo Motlhanka serving as captain. The Botswana cricket team is showing promise and has the potential for continued success on the international stage.
📈7.Nigeria
The Nigerian national cricket team is a rapidly-growing team in Africa, having achieved Twenty20 International (T20I) status from the International Cricket Council (ICC). The team reached its highest T20I ranking of 36th on May 25, 2019, and received its ICC status in 2002. The current coach of the team is Steve Tikolo, with Sylvester Okpe serving as captain. The Nigerian cricket team is showing strong progress and has the potential for continued success on the international stage.
📈6.Tanzania
The Tanzania national cricket team is a rapidly-growing team in Africa, having achieved Twenty20 International (T20I) status from the International Cricket Council (ICC). The team has made significant progress in recent years, reaching their highest T20I ranking of 30th on November 17, 2021. Tanzania’s national team qualified for the Cricket World Cup in 1975 as the East Africa cricket team. And is currently coached by Steve Tikolo, with Abhik Patwa serving as captain. The team is showing promise and has the potential to make a significant impact on the international stage.
📈5.Kenya
Kenya’s national cricket team is a team on the rise in Africa, having achieved impressive results on the international stage. The team stood in third place at the Cricket World Cup in 2003. And has achieved a T20I status from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Kenya’s best T20I ranking was 12th on March 1, 2007, and their best ODI ranking was 10th on May 1, 1998. The team received its ICC status in 1981 and is currently captained by Irfan Karim. With their strong performances and potential for continued success, the Kenyan cricket team is a formidable opponent for any team they face.
📈4.Uganda
The Uganda national cricket team is a team on the rise in Africa, having qualified for the Cricket World Cup in 1975 as the East Africa cricket team. The team has achieved a Twenty20 International (T20I) status from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and reached their highest T20I ranking of 24th on September 21, 2022. Uganda received its ICC status in 1998 and is currently coached by Lawrence Mahatlane, with Brian Masaba serving as captain. The team is showing promise and has the potential to make a significant impact on the international stage.
📈3.Namibia
Namibia’s national cricket team is a team that has made significant progress in recent times and is considered one of the best in Africa. The team has achieved Twenty20 (T20) and One Day International (ODI) status from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and reached their highest T20I ranking of 14th on July 22, 2022, and their best ODI ranking of 14th on September 22, 2022. Namibia has also qualified for the Cricket World Cup, finishing 10th in the T20 World Cup in 2021. The team received its ICC status in 1992 and has the potential to continue its success on the international stage.
📈2.Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s national cricket team is a highly skilled and competitive team that has achieved full member status from the International Cricket Council (ICC). The team has a strong record of success on the international stage, finishing 5th in the Cricket World Cup in 1999 and 9th in the T20 World Cup in 2007. Zimbabwe’s best Test ranking has been 7th, and the team received its ICC status in 1981. With their proven track record and full member status, Zimbabwe is a formidable team on the global cricket stage.
📈1.South Africa
South Africa’s national cricket team is widely regarded as one of the best in the world, with a long history of success on the international stage. The team achieved full member status from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and reached the number one spot in the Test rankings in January 1969. South Africa has also consistently performed well in the T20 World Cup, reaching the semi-finals in 2009, and 2014, and the Cricket World Cup in 1992, 1999, 2007, and 2015. With their impressive record and full-member status, South Africa is a formidable team in the world of cricket. The team received its ICC status in 1909 and has continued to be a dominant force in the sport.
Conclusion
Cricket has long been a popular sport in Africa, and the region is home to several strong teams that have achieved recognition on the international stage. While South Africa and Zimbabwe are currently the only teams with the full member status in the International Cricket Council (ICC), many other countries in the region have the potential to make their mark on the world stage in the future. A total of 23 countries in Africa have T20I status, indicating that they have the proper structure in place to compete at the international level.
The Africa Cricket Association, headquartered in Benoni, South Africa, manages cricket in the region. And works to promote the growth and development of the sport. It is likely that as more countries in Africa continue to invest in the infrastructure and talent needed to compete at the highest levels of international cricket, we will see an increase in the number of strong teams from this region.
This list of the top 10 best cricket teams countries in Africa is based on the International Cricket Council (ICC) Team Rankings. Which you can find by clicking here.
Community
Tell us what you think about this ranking of the top 10 best cricket teams in Africa. Do you agree with the order of the teams on this list? Do you think that this ranking accurately reflects the current state of cricket in the region, or do you believe that there is room for improvement? We would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this topic. Share your perspective by leaving a comment below, and don’t forget to check out some of the related posts for more information about cricket in Africa.
FAQ’s
South Africa’s cricket team is the best in Africa.
South Africa’s cricket team is the best in Africa.
