Francis Trevor Samura, Chairman of Cricket Sierra Leone (CSL),
Dear Mr. Michael Chambers,
I write to you with great enthusiasm to formally propose the nomination of Mr. Francis Trevor Samura, Chairman of Cricket Sierra Leone (CSL), for induction into the Cricket Hall of Fame – Class of 2026.
I have been working with Chairman Mr Samura and the Cricket Sierra Leone Board closely since 2022 as the Representative, Brand ambassador and Advisor to the Board of Directors, Cricket Sierra Leone.
The Cricket Hall of Fame’s mission to honour those who have contributed to the growth of the game, in both urban and rural communities, finds a powerful embodiment in Mr. Samura’s story. His career is not merely one of sporting administration — it is a decades-long act of service to a nation rebuilding itself through cricket.
A LEGACY BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP
Mr. Samura began his formal involvement with the Sierra Leone Cricket Association (SLCA) as Assistant Secretary in 2007, progressing through the ranks to serve as voluntary Chief Executive Officer from 2012 to 2021 — a nine-year tenure during which he reinvested 100% of his CEO salary directly into grassroots programmes. In 2021, he was elected Chairman of the Board, a position he holds today.
His dedication has been transformative:
• Under his stewardship, Sierra Leone’s ICC Associate Scorecard ranking climbed dramatically — from 52nd in 2021, to 36th in 2024, and to an extraordinary 17th in 2025. This ascent represents one of the most remarkable governance-driven improvements in associate cricket history.
• He has overseen four national teams — from U-19 to Senior male and female — competing in 24 international competitions between 2021 and 2025.
• His Women’s Patriots side claimed victory at the 2025 BCA Kalahari Women’s T20 International Tournament in Gaborone, Botswana — a historic achievement for Sierra Leonean cricket.
• He achieved a 57% increase in non-ICC revenue in 2023, reducing the nation’s dependency on central funding and establishing a sustainable financial model.
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL OUTLAST A GENERATION
Perhaps most remarkably, Mr. Samura has spearheaded one of the most ambitious cricket infrastructure projects in Associate cricket today. As reported by Emerging Cricket, construction has already commenced at a site in Sussex — a landmark development made possible through Sierra Leone’s inclusion in the national Olympic Committee and the Commonwealth Games Association, which unlocked government support. The facility, whose land alone would have cost over $1.5 million, is planned to house four international-standard cricket grounds, a cricket academy, state-of-the-art indoor training facilities, and approximately 40 outdoor cricket nets — a complex fully capable of hosting any ICC event short of a World Cup.
Mr. Samura has been candid about his vision: “We are looking forward to development partners and sponsors to support us in constructing the facility in Sussex, which is a touristic area.” This is a man who plans not for the present, but for future generations of Sierra Leonean cricketers.
A SERVANT OF THE GAME IN THE TRUEST SENSE
Beyond administration, Mr. Samura is a qualified cricket coach, a qualified umpire, an ICC-certified Coach Tutor, Umpire Tutor, and Cricket Administrator (CAP). He played competitively at school and club level and served as Vice-Captain of the Sierra Leone Police Cricket Club. He is, in every sense, a man of the game.
His investment in schools’ cricket has dramatically expanded participation: CSL trained 400 physical education teachers in 2025 alone, with targets to reach 1,000 in the coming year and engage 100,000 youth participants by 2026. His “Vision 2030” roadmap targets 800,000 active participants nationally — a bold, data-driven commitment to making cricket a true cultural pillar of Sierra Leone.
FOR THE CLASS OF 2026
Mr. Chambers, the Cricket Hall of Fame exists to honour those who, in the true spirit of the game, have committed themselves to quality-of-life development in their communities. Francis Trevor Samura has rebuilt a cricket ecosystem from the ruins left by civil war, done so largely in a voluntary capacity, and positioned Sierra Leone as one of the fastest-rising Associate nations in the world. His story deserves to stand alongside the game’s finest.
I would be honoured to provide any additional documentation, including Mr. Samura’s full curriculum vitae (attached with email along with an additional Photograph), letters of support, or statistical records, to support this nomination.
Thank you for your consideration, and for the important work the Cricket Hall of Fame continues to do for the global game.
With regards,
Sankar Renganathan
