Gold medal hopefuls, the Cricket Cranes, are off to Ghana where the 13th edition of the African Games is currently ongoing.
The Cricket Cranes are honoured to be among the eight teams that will debut Men’s Cricket at these games, and they will get their journey started against rivals Kenya on Sunday.
Uganda is placed in Group A alongside South Africa and the hosts and are regarded as one of the favourites to win gold but like their female counterparts, the Victoria Pearls who finished fourth in the Women’s section, they bowl off the competition against their archrivals.
The side has been boosted by the return of opening bowler Cosmos Kyewuta to the team. The 22-year-old last featured for the Cricket Cranes in March last year during the Qatar tour.
His absence has been due to a back injury he sustained while on trials in Zimbabwe, but his return is a welcome boost to Jackson Ogwang, the interim head coach.
All-rounder Riazat Ali Shah and top-order batter Ronak Patel are not available for the team though. The duo is still recovering from their respective injuries.
The African Games come at the right time for the Cricket Cranes who are gearing up for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup set to happen in West Indies and the USA in June.
The tournament will give the side ground to further polish up their skill ahead of their maiden appearance at the World Cup.
The World Cup might be the real deal, but Ogwang is adamant this tournament is as significant as they come. He insists this is not only a chance for his side to earn more silverware, but an opportunity to rack up ranking points.
The Traveling Squad
Roger Mukasa, Simon Ssesazi, Robinson Obuya, Ronald Lutaya, Kenneth Waiswa, Alpesh Ramjani, Dinesh Nakrani, Brian Masaba (Cpt), Cyrus Kakuru, Fred Acellam, Juma Miyaji, Bilal Hassan, Cosmas Kyewuta, Frank Nsubuga
Henry Ssenyondo.
