Uganda Cricket Association has parted ways with national team head coach Abhay Sharma, ending his 18-month stint despite the Cricket Cranes wrapping up their World Cup Qualifying campaign with a dominant win over Nigeria.
This comes after a disappointing 2025 ICC T20i World Cup qualifiers campaign in Zimbabwe where Uganda bowled off with two loses against hosts Zimbabwe and neighbors Tanzania who diminished the Country’s qualification chances.
In a statement released on Saturday, Cricket Uganda thanked Sharma, who took charge in April 2024, for his service during one of the team’s most eventful periods in recent years.
“Cricket Uganda wishes to sincerely thank Abhay Sharma for his dedicated service as Head Coach of the Cricket Cranes from April 2024 to October 2025,” the statement read.
“Under his guidance, the team achieved historic milestones, including their first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup appearance, strong Challenge League B performances, and memorable international victories.”
The association praised Sharma’s leadership and passion, saying he left a lasting mark on Ugandan cricket.
However, his departure follows a mixed qualifying campaign that saw Uganda fall short of a second straight T20 World Cup berth.
Despite flashes of brilliance, inconsistency proved costly, sending the Cranes back to the regional qualifiers for the next cycle.
Uganda salvaged some pride by thrashing Nigeria by 66 runs to finish fifth. Captain Riazat Ali Shah led the charge with a blistering 66 off 38 balls as Uganda posted 196 for 7.
Spinners Henry Ssenyondo (3/12) and Alpesh Ramjani (2/17) then choked the chase, limiting Nigeria to 130 for 7.
It was a strong finish, but too late to change the campaign’s outcome.
Sharma’s tenure had its highs most notably Uganda’s first-ever T20 World Cup appearance earlier this year but the team’s recent dip leaves questions for the next chapter.
New recruit Sumeet Verma showed all round glimpses of promise in the tournament, while the bowlers struggled to adapt on truer wickets.
The Cricket Association will now begin its search for a new head coach, the focus now shifts to rebuilding momentum and reigniting Uganda’s continental ambitions.
