Cricket Cranes set for Tanzania departure as World Cup Qualification push reaches decisive stage

‎Uganda’s Cricket Cranes will depart for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Sunday, August 2, as they begin the final and most important phase of their ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League B campaign, carrying an unbeaten record, a strong points advantage and a clear ambition of advancing along the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup qualification pathway.
‎
‎The team will leave Uganda with confidence after an outstanding campaign that has seen them remain unbeaten through the first two rounds of the competition. The Cricket Cranes sit top of the six-team standings with 18 points after recording eight victories and two no-results from their opening 10 matches.
‎
‎Uganda holds a two-point advantage over second-placed Italy and knows the final five fixtures in Tanzania will decide which teams progress to the next stage of qualification.
‎
‎Although three victories from the remaining matches would guarantee Uganda’s progression, head coach Steve Tikolo insists the team is not travelling with a minimum-target approach and instead wants his players to compete for victory in every game.
‎
‎“At the back of our minds, there is that three wins, but personally I would want to take it one game at a time. I’ve also spoken to the boys about it, but we would also want to win all our five games,” Tikolo said.
‎
‎“When you do that as a team, you usually send a very strong statement to the world and to the opposition. We want to be clinical and win all matches.”
‎
‎Captain Riazat Ali Shah shares the same ambition, with Uganda aiming not only to secure qualification but also to complete the Challenge League B campaign unbeaten.
‎
‎“We want to go all in, and we want to win all the games. Our goal is to get the ODI status, but first we have to finish the league first,” Ali Shah said.
‎
‎Uganda has already defeated every team in the group at least once, giving the side belief heading into the final leg. However, the captain warned that every opponent will arrive determined to achieve its own objectives.
‎
‎“They also have their own goals. They will also fight,” Ali Shah said.
‎
‎The final leg will be played at the University of Dar es Salaam Complex, where the newly constructed ESTIM Ground and NTS Ground will provide a new challenge for all participating teams. Uganda will use warm-up matches to assess the conditions before beginning its qualification fixtures.
‎
‎Tikolo acknowledged that the unfamiliar playing surfaces mean the team must adapt quickly, especially because previous matches in Tanzania were played on slower, low-bouncing pitches that generally favoured spin bowling.
‎
‎“Obviously, being new grounds, I wouldn’t speak much on those, but the good thing is when we get there, we have warm-up games that will give us an insight on how the wicket will play,” he said.
‎
‎“The previous Tanzania wickets were slow, low bounce and turning wickets, usually favouring spinners, but now we cannot go with that because it’s new grounds. We’ll get there, have a look at those wickets and I’m sure we’ll also have some practice sessions on those grounds.”
‎
‎Uganda will rely on a mixture of experience and emerging talent as it enters the decisive stage of the qualification journey. The squad includes established international performers alongside young players such as Gerald Olipa, who will gain valuable exposure in a high-pressure tournament environment.
‎
‎Ali Shah believes introducing younger players to major competitions is important for Uganda’s future growth.
‎“For the future, it’s good to go with a couple of youngsters in the major tournaments. They will know how they can handle the pressure,” he said.
‎
‎The Cricket Cranes will also count on players in good form, including Simon Ssesazi, while experienced campaigners such as Raghav Dhawan, Sumeet Verma, Alpesh Ramjani and Kenneth Waiswa add depth and stability to the squad.
‎
‎“We have a couple of youngsters coming up the order, and we have experienced players in between,” Ali Shah said. “We have Raghav Dhawan, who has a lot of experience playing in different conditions in India and everywhere. We have Sumeet Verma, who has done so much good in India, especially on spin wickets. We have Alpesh Ramjani, Kenneth Waiswa, Ssesazi and other players. I think we are good to go.”
‎
‎While Uganda enters the final leg as the leading side, Italy remains its closest challenger, with Hong Kong, China also still involved in the qualification race. Tanzania, Bahrain and Singapore may be out of contention for the top positions but remain capable of challenging Uganda and the other leading teams.
‎
‎The Cricket Cranes’ unbeaten record has placed them in a strong position, but it has also made them a target for their opponents. Tikolo believes maintaining focus, discipline and execution will be crucial if Uganda is to complete the mission successfully.
‎
‎Before the Challenge League B fixtures begin, Uganda will take part in a pre-tournament tri-nation warm-up competition at the University of Dar es Salaam Complex. The Cricket Cranes will face Tanzania on August 4 before opening their Challenge League B campaign against Tanzania on August 8.
‎
Uganda’s remaining fixtures are against Italy on August 11, Hong Kong, China on August 12, Singapore on August 15 and Bahrain on August 18. All matches will start at 9:00am East Africa Time.
‎
The squad travelling to Tanzania is led by captain Riazat Ali Shah and includes Juma Miyaji, Fred Achelam, Cyrus Kakuru, Dinesh Nakrani, Joseph Baguma, Henry Ssenyondo, Sumeet Verma, Simon Ssesazi, Alpesh Ramjani, Kenneth Waiswa, Cosmas Kyewuta, Gerald Olipa and Raghav Dhawan. Mathew Musinguzi and Robinson Obuya are the non-travelling reserves.
‎
‎The technical team is headed by Steve Tikolo, assisted by Jackson Ogwang, with Charles Waiswa as team manager. The support staff includes physiotherapist Japhet Juuko Ndawula, strength and conditioning coach Emmanuella Oroma, analyst Alvin Bagaya, consultant Nehal Bibodi and media manager Innocent Ndawula.