TANZANIA's senior national cricket squad will be zealously battling for a successful campaign when it features in the 2025 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Challenge League B in Hong Kong this month.

The showpiece, scheduled for February 6-16, will witness Tanzania locking horns with Bahrain, Italy, Singapore, Uganda, and host Hong Kong.

A Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) officer said a special flag-off ceremony was held at the TCA grounds in Dar es Salaam last weekend to send the cricketers off with pride and motivation.

TCA Chairman Balakrishna Sreekumar led the ceremony, graced by National Sports Council (NSC) Sports Officer Charles Maguzu as the guest of honour.

In a symbolic gesture, Maguzu handed over the national flag to the team's, skipper Kassim Nassoro, marking the cricketers' official send-off.

According to the TCA officer, the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Challenge League B is more than just a tournament, stressing it is a continuation of Tanzania’s mission towards the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup qualification.

He was adamant that with the backing of the entire nation, the men's national team was ready to take on the challenge and make Tanzania proud.

The official appealed to cricket followers and the remaining Tanzanians to unite in support of the men’s national team as they represent the country on the global stage.

The farewell ceremony, the officer said, turned out to be a day full of positive energy, excitement, and brotherhood as the association saw the senior national team off.

In the heartwarming send-off at the TCA Office, TCA Chairman Sreekumar surprised the team with a special cake, making the moment even more memorable. 

Laughter, good vibes, and strong team spirit filled the room as players, officials, and well-wishers came together to celebrate the moment.

The senior national cricket squad has Ally Mpeka, Akhil Anil, Amal Rajeevan, Arshaan Jassani, Ivan Ismail, Khalid Amiri, and Laksh Snehal.

Mohamed Simba, Mohamed Omary, Mohamed Yunus, Maker Mukesh, Rajendra Asuri, Sivaraj Selvaraj, and skipper Kassim Nassor complete the travelling senior national cricketers' list.

Pushpa Kumar is the senior national cricket squad's head coach, and Adil Kassam is the team manager.

The 2024–2026 ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League is the second edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League and a cricket tournament which forms part of the 2027 Men's Cricket World Cup qualification process.

The league features 12 teams - those finishing second-fourth in their respective league in the 2019–2022 ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League, the top-four finishers from the 2024 ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League Play-off and two teams from the 2023 Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off.

That tournament saw Canada, winner of League A in the previous Challenge League being promoted to League 2 status, while Papua New Guinea was relegated.

The other Challenge League winner, Jersey, was not successful in obtaining promotion.

The top two teams from both groups, A and B, will secure a spot at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier Playoff.

Each group is scheduled to play three times in a single round-robin tournament format, once each year from 2024 to 2026.

This amounts to 15 matches per team and a total of 90 matches.

In the six-team 2024 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Challenge League B in Uganda, Tanzania ended fifth.