Henriette Ishimwe: Rwanda’s cricket poster girl dreams of glory

Cricket is anything but mainstream in Rwanda. Just ask Henriette Ishimwe, who has emerged as one of its brightest stars.

“Support for cricket is improving, and it’s becoming more popular. The only challenge is limited support. But if they invest in us, I believe women’s cricket in Rwanda will reach the World Cup in the next five years,” Ishimwe told Olympics.com.

Her standout performances have helped popularise the game among girls across the East African nation.

Her sporting journey began with volleyball at age 12, but curiosity led her to cricket, a sport she quickly fell in love with.

“One of my friends, Sifa, introduced me to cricket when I was in Primary 6. I didn’t understand it at first, but by the time I turned 14, I started joining training sessions and truly began playing. I joined simply because my friends were playing, and I wanted to be part of it.”

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Henriette Ishimwe: A Turning Point

A pivotal moment came when coaches visited her school to scout players for the U19 national team.

“They chose me, and that was a turning point. It made me realise cricket was something I could excel in.”

Her career-defining experience came during preparations for the 2017 Kwibuka Women’s T20 tournament—an annual event held in remembrance of the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

“I was selected among 16 players, but the night before camp, I was dropped. I cried a lot. My coach told me to work so hard that they’d regret dropping me. That changed everything. A month later, I was recalled for training, ahead of a tournament in Nigeria. I hit sixes and scored 30 runs in practice. That’s when they started calling me an all-rounder.”

Henriette Ishimwe’s Rapid Rise

Just days after her U19 call-up, Ishimwe joined the senior national team for matches in Uganda. Despite not having a role model in cricket, she credits her rise to the support she has had from the Rwanda Cricket Association (RCA), her coaches, and her family.

Her proudest moment came in 2023 when Rwanda qualified for the inaugural ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup by winning the Africa Qualifier, becoming the first Rwandan team to be eligible for an ICC tournament. They reached the Super Six stage, defeating Zimbabwe and the West Indies.

“Qualifying for the U19 World Cup was unforgettable. Personally, taking four wickets in four balls against Zimbabwe was a dream come true.”

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