Victoria Pearls brace for T20 Women’s Global Qualifiers challenge in Abu Dhabi

The Victoria Pearls (Uganda women’s senior cricket team) are getting ready for their second shot at the T20 Women’s Global Qualifiers happening in Abu Dhabi from April 25th to May 2nd. Uganda first entered the T20 Women’s Global Qualifiers scene back in 2018 when they played in the Netherlands.

Janet Mbabazi is at the helm, leading a team of 15 players, with Rita Musamali supporting her as the assistant. Behind the scenes, Lawrence Ssematimba heads the technical team, with Deus Muhumuza assisting, and Richard Okia analyzing the team’s performance.

“As the captain of the Victoria Pearls, it’s truly an honor to lead this talented group of players. I’m looking forward to enjoying myself in this role and guiding the team to success. Despite our disappointment at not securing a medal in the recent African Games, we’ve used that experience to fuel our determination. We’ve gone back to the drawing board, focusing on improving our fielding and bowling, and I’m confident that we’re well-prepared to give our best in the upcoming Global Qualifiers.” Team Captain Janet Mbabazi said during the team flagoff on Thursday in Kampala.

Uganda has been placed in Group A for the tournament, alongside Scotland, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the USA. The teams are ranked differently, with Sri Lanka leading the pack at 7th, followed by Thailand (12th), Scotland (14th), the USA (20th), and Uganda (18th).

The top two teams from each group will move on to the semifinals, with a chance to secure a spot at the 2024 T20 Women’s World Cup in Bangladesh later this year. While Uganda has faced Scotland and Thailand before, they’ll be meeting the USA and Sri Lanka for the first time in this tournament.

Before their first match against Scotland, Uganda will play warm-up games against UAE on the 21st and Vanuatu on the 23rd. Their group stage lineup includes matches against the USA and Thailand, followed by a showdown with Sri Lanka. It’s worth noting that the matches against Scotland and Thailand will be played at night, presenting a new challenge for the Victoria Pearls.

“Playing under floodlights for the first time brings a whole new level of excitement to our game. It’s a bit nerve-wracking, but we’re eager to embrace the challenge and show what we’re made of under those bright lights. It’s a chance for us to learn and grow as a team, and we’re really looking forward to soaking up the experience,” Mbabazi noted.

Full Team: