As the Cricket Cranes continue to impress on the field during their historic Mumbai Tour, Cricket Uganda officials are simultaneously laying the groundwork for the sport’s long-term future through strategic partnerships with the Omtex ICWC Cricket Institute and the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA).
While Uganda’s senior men’s team dominated the MCA Colts XI in a 4-0 sweep during the 50-over series, important conversations were unfolding away from the spotlight in boardrooms, training facilities, and high-performance centres across Mumbai.
Led by Cricket Uganda chairman Jackson Kavuma, the Ugandan delegation — which included Head of High Performance & Pathways Richard Okia, national team head coach Steve Tikolo, and team manager Charles Waiswa — used the tour as an opportunity to strengthen international relationships aimed at accelerating cricket development in Uganda.
A major milestone during the visit came at the Omtex I Can We Can (ICWC) Cricket Institute in Saphale, Mumbai, a facility that has maintained close ties with Ugandan cricket since 2020.
Between match days, the Cricket Uganda delegation travelled from Boisar to the rapidly expanding Omtex Institute for extensive discussions on improving Uganda’s high-performance systems from grassroots structures to senior national teams.
Meetings with Omtex ICWC Institute Founder and President Pravin Raut, alongside directors Vijay Patel and Rajesh Mahtre, focused on collaboration in player development, rehabilitation programmes, coaching education, sports science, grounds management, technical support, and equipment assistance.
Raut emphasized the importance of integrating modern scientific approaches into Uganda’s cricket development systems.
“You have the talent and skills, but we want to add the scientific block onto your programmes,” Raut said. “Cricket today is data-driven, and we believe Omtex can help Uganda become a stronger cricketing nation.”
Okia believes the partnership has the potential to transform multiple areas within Uganda’s cricket structures beyond elite player development.
“We want Omtex to become our one-stop centre for building both players and non-playing staff,” Okia explained.
“From groundsmen learning how to prepare different types of wickets to physiotherapists aligning rehabilitation programmes with our national team coaching structures, there is so much we can benefit from here.”
The Ugandan delegation toured Omtex’s state-of-the-art facilities, which include 12 different wicket surfaces, modern indoor practice nets, player accommodation, rehabilitation centres, physiotherapy rooms, massage facilities, recovery pools, an eight-seater ice bath, and executive accommodation for visiting teams and coaching staff.
For head coach Steve Tikolo, exposing Ugandan players and coaches to such professional environments is critical for continued progress.
“As a national team coach, these are the kinds of facilities and programmes you want to see,” Tikolo said.
“Environments like this motivate both players and coaches to improve. I’m glad Cricket Uganda is committed to making good use of the Omtex Institute.”
The relationship between Uganda and Omtex dates back several years, with Uganda becoming one of the first international cricket programmes to engage with the institute during its formative stages.
That history has helped create strong bonds between both parties.
“Uganda were the first country to visit Omtex when we opened up, and we look at you as our own,” Omtex Director Vijay Patel said.
“You are always welcome here, and we are willing to help because we have grown together. Uganda’s success, especially the Cricket Cranes’ appearance at the 2024 World Cup, also brings us pride.”
Chairman Kavuma praised Omtex for its continued support and pledged to formalise long-term programmes through the partnership.
“You have never said no to us, and I do not take that for granted,” Kavuma said.
“As Cricket Uganda, we are forever grateful. We now want to develop structured programmes and proposals so that this partnership can immediately start creating lasting impact.”
The off-field engagements come at a pivotal time for Ugandan cricket.
Before the end of the month, Cricket Uganda and the Mumbai Cricket Association are expected to sign a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) focused on player pathways, coaching development, women’s cricket, and international exposure opportunities.
Combined with Uganda’s strong performances on the field, the Mumbai Tour is increasingly becoming about far more than wins and losses. It is about building sustainable partnerships, expanding opportunities, and positioning Ugandan cricket within stronger global development networks.
On May 28, the Cricket Cranes held a full-day training session at the Omtex ICWC Institute ahead of their final T20 fixtures against the MCA Colts XI and Suryakumar Yadav’s Mumbai Knights on May 29 and May 30 respectively.
While the victories may dominate headlines today, the relationships and partnerships forged during this tour could ultimately prove even more valuable for the future of Ugandan cricket.
The long-term objective remains clear: to establish the Omtex ICWC Institute as Cricket Uganda’s premier development and high-performance pathways hub.
