The Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) has confirmed a key change to the upcoming Pearl of Africa T20 Series, with Nigeria’s national cricket team, the Yellow Greens, stepping in to replace Kuwait following the latter’s withdrawal.
The second edition of the tournament is set to run from July 15 to 28, 2025 at the scenic Entebbe Cricket Oval. Nigeria, currently ranked 36th in the ICC T20I standings, takes the place of Kuwait, ranked 23rd, maintaining the competitive edge of the tournament while also strengthening its continental representation.
UCA has also revised the playing format. The competition will now adopt a double round-robin format, with all teams playing each other twice. However, Namibia A and UAE will not face each other, and matches involving Namibia A will not carry T20I status or count for points, since the side is a development squad for Namibia’s senior team, the Richelieu Eagles. The team that finishes top of the table after all fixtures will be crowned champion.
Speaking on the development, Nigeria’s head coach Steve Tikolo, who previously coached Uganda, welcomed the opportunity:
“This is good news for us because we have not had anything since November last year. It is a nice feeling to know that the boys are going to get some game time. Competing against higher-ranked teams will help us gauge our potential. This is a real good opportunity for the boys in terms of exposure.”
Nigeria’s captain Sylvester Okpe echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the team’s preparations:
“We have been in camp for the past 10 days working on fitness and match awareness. The team is excited to be coming to Entebbe for the Pearl of Africa Series. It helps us prepare better for Zimbabwe and improve our rankings.”
The tournament will bowl off on Thursday, July 17, with Uganda taking on Namibia A and Kenya facing Nigeria in the opening matches.
The Local Organising Committee, led by Adonia Waibale, extended its appreciation to all participating nations and sponsors, including LycaMobile, Pepsi, and Hisense, for their support in making the event possible.
The Pearl of Africa T20 Series promises thrilling cricket action as teams gear up to compete in one of the region’s most anticipated international tournaments.
