Uganda Cricket Cranes Ready to Take Flight on Wings of Ambition at T20 World Cup Debut

Their cricketers are all set to make their big stage debut with a first-ever appearance in the T20 World Cup, but their football squad has yet to secure a spot in the Fifa World Cup.

That is Uganda's narrative. or, as their beloved cricket team is known, the Cricket Cranes. On June 3 at 6 a.m. IST on June 4, they launch their campaign against Afghanistan at the Providence.

The sport that is significantly more popular in this East African country is football. The nation's cricket infrastructure is still lacking in quality. Nevertheless, the team captained by leg-spinner and all-rounder Brian Masaba accepted the odds with grace, concentrated on the task at hand, and executed their plan flawlessly.

Ugandans secured their first-ever T20 Cup berth last year when they upset Zimbabwe, a team with more international cricket experience and ranked far higher, by five wickets in the Africa Region Qualifier. Uganda finished second on the seven-team points table. Uganda only suffered a loss to Namibia, the winning team, throughout the qualifying competition.

Naturally, operating on a limited budget presents a significant issue when it comes to infrastructure. Even if our facilities haven't been up to par, we've always been able to make the most of what we have. In anticipation of their Thursday warm-up match against Scotland at Tarouba, Uganda's assistant coach Jackson Ogwang Oyuko stated that the association (Cricket Uganda) has plans to construct fields, which is encouraging for further growth of cricket in our nation.

The Ugandans play on three more grounds in Jinja, Mpigi, and Entebbe in addition to two grounds in the country's capital, Kampala.

The majority of these ICC associate member teams have players of Indian and Pakistani descent as well as players from other elite teams whose national nations are no longer considering them for selection. The 26-year-old right-handed batsman Riazat Ali Shah, the vice captain of Uganda, is a native of Gilgit, Pakistan. However, just four other players with ties to South Asia are on the team besides Riazat.

Abhay Sharma, a former fielding coach for both India 'A' and India U-19, is the team's head coach and is also Indian. However, the remaining ten cricket players in the team are all homegrown and have extremely low incomes. That emphasizes how cricket is becoming more and more popular in the country.

"Our association's development program is achieving results in terms of generating and providing opportunities for homegrown talent to thrive. Jackson emphasized that the program's main goals are to introduce cricket at the grassroots level and ensure that these young players are kept under observation through various age-group competitions, including the U-19 ones.

Aspiring cricket players in Uganda have received coaching and training from South African coaches, notably Peter Kirsten, a former Proteas top-order batsman (in 2015–16), Jackson said. "The game has expanded mostly due to its dissemination to many educational institutions and schools around the nation. The game was only available in Central Uganda in the past, but it is now available everywhere thanks to hubs.

Second, it has been helpful to have our neighbors Kenya and Rwanda support us in (organizing) regional competitions, while Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa have contributed high-caliber series and engagements. Additionally, they have provided teaching and umpiring instruction," the assistant coach added.

The Ugandans have also had experience practicing under lights; they are currently in the Caribbean.

The Cranes are prepared to soar on ambitious wings.

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