Cricket Cranes Target Abuja Triumph in T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier
By Kyeyune Ali
Uganda’s national men’s cricket team, the Cricket Cranes, have been challenged to turn their improved rankings and recent performances into tangible results as they target qualification for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Regional Final.
The team was officially flagged off by officials from the National Council of Sports and Cricket Uganda at Lugogo Hockey Ground on Friday ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier C in Abuja, Nigeria.
The 14-man squad, led by captain Riazat Ali and vice-captain Kenneth Waiswa, heads into the tournament with ambitions of winning the competition and keeping Uganda’s hopes of returning to the global stage alive.
Uganda made their maiden appearance at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2024, held in the West Indies and the United States, but failed to qualify for the 2026 edition. The Abuja tournament therefore presents the Cricket Cranes with an important opportunity to reignite their World Cup ambitions.
Head coach Steve Tikolo expressed confidence in the selected squad, insisting that the team has the quality and preparation needed to compete for the title.
“We feel these are the best players to go and do a great job for Uganda in the tournament,” Tikolo said.
He added that the team’s ambition goes beyond securing qualification for the next stage.
“I am confident in the boys going to Abuja, but our target is to go there and win the tournament, not only qualify,” he said.
The coach pointed to the team’s recent assessments, including a tour of India and participation in the T20 Continent Cup in Kigali, as important exercises that helped shape the final selection.
Captain Riazat Ali also believes the team has developed a strong foundation from its recent preparations. He, however, stressed the importance of executing the basics and maintaining the right balance throughout the competition.
Riazat said the squad has a good combination of experienced players and emerging talent, adding that the team is excited to see the younger players continue to develop.
The Cricket Cranes will begin their campaign against Zambia on October 20 before facing Lesotho. Following a rest day, Uganda will return to action against The Gambia on October 23, Mozambique on October 24 and hosts Nigeria on October 25.
The demanding fixture schedule will test Uganda’s ability to manage player workloads, maintain consistency and recover between matches. With several games scheduled within a short period, discipline and execution will be crucial to the team’s chances of progressing.
Uganda’s 14-man squad comprises;
Riazat Ali, Robinson Obuya, Raghav Dhawan, Gerald Olipa, Sumeet Verma, Kenneth Waiswa, Alpesh Ramjani, Pius Oloka, Anas Baig Mirza, Charles Musemeza, Cyrus Kakuru, Juma Miyaji, Joseph Baguma and Enock Kasaija.