Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) has announced the squad set to represent the nation in the highly anticipated International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup Challenge League B.
This important tournament, scheduled to take place from November 4th to 16th, 2024, will be held at Lugogo Cricket Oval and Entebbe Oval.
Leading the charge for Uganda will be Riazat Ali Shah, an experienced all-rounder, recently appointed captain for the tournament.
Shah has been a cornerstone of the national team for the past seven years, serving as vice-captain under Brian Masaba, the previous team leader.
With Masaba stepping down after captaining Uganda in the ICC Men’s World Cup in the West Indies and USA, the leadership mantle now falls to Shah, whose experience and consistent performance have earned him the trust of the UCA and the selectors.
“It is not going to be a challenging job for me,” Shah stated confidently. “Everyone on this team knows their role and strives to execute it. The captaincy is an additional responsibility, but we are all working toward the same goal—achieving One Day International (ODI) status.”
The squad for the tournament is a blend of experienced veterans and promising young talents, carefully selected by head coach Abhay Sharma and the UCA Selectors Committee.
Among the additions to the team are Shrideep Mangela and Raghav Dhawan, both of whom recently impressed in Uganda’s T20I series against Papua New Guinea. Also joining the squad is Pascal Murungi, a former U-19 captain who is returning after a successful stint in Zimbabwe.
Uganda’s participation in the ICC Challenge League B is a critical step toward qualification for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
The tournament will serve as a crucial gateway for Uganda’s cricket ambitions, as the country aims to elevate its status on the international stage.
Before the official tournament begins, Uganda will host a three-match warm-up series against Bahrain in Jinja. The Bahrain Tour of Uganda will run from October 26th to October 31st, with both T20I and 50-over matches to prepare the squad for the Challenge League.
The confirmed squad for Uganda’s Cricket Cranes includes:
Riazat Ali Shah (Captain)
Fred Achelam (Wicketkeeper)
Juma Miyaji
Shrideep Mangela
Frank Nsubuga
Brian Masaba
Raghav Dhawan
Cosmas Kyewuta
Robinson Obuya
Alpesh Ramjani
Pascal Murungi
Henry Ssenyondo
Dinesh Nakrani
Kenneth Waiswa
Reserves:
Joseph Baguma
Cyrus Kakuru
Warm-up matches vs Bahrain:
October 26: Arrival in Jinja
October 28: T20I vs Uganda
October 29: T20I vs Uganda
October 31: 50-over match vs Uganda
Uganda’s Fixtures for the ICC Challenge League B:
November 6: Uganda vs Singapore (Lugogo)
November 9: Uganda vs Tanzania (Lugogo)
November 10: Uganda vs Hong Kong (Lugogo)
November 13: Uganda vs Italy (Entebbe)
November 16: Uganda vs Bahrain (Entebbe)
