The Cricket Cranes are enroute to Sri Lanka, embarking on their second tour of South Asia this year in preparation for their historic debut at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Their first build-up tour happened last month in India where they lost seven out of the the eight games played, but they return to South Asia hoping for a positive outing.
They will be keen on turning some of those losses into wins, however, Jackson Ogwang, the interim head coach of the side says this tour will be aimed at ‘identifying batting and bowling combinations’.
He said: “The plan is to give the boys more game time against tougher opposition and also to fine tune them in terms of skills development and maintenance ahead of the next phase of our preparations which happen to be T20is.”
“It is also important that we start finding the right combinations by batting and bowling certain players in different situations to test their progress.”
“Sri-Lanka just like India gives the batsmen the opportunity to face more fast and swing bowlers considering that we are gonna face more quicker pacers than we have been facing.”
Returnees and Absentees
The traveling squad is made up of 15 players that include fast bowler Bilal Hassun and all-rounder Alpesh Ramjani who sat out the Indian tour.
Like the Indian tour, Riazat Ali Shah misses out on this one too. Top order batter Ronak Patel featured in one of the games in India, but he is not part of the Sri Lanka bound squad.
Opening bowler Cosmos Kyewuta is on the list of those left out, but his equivalent Juma Miyaji – who until last month had not played for the Cricket Cranes since July last year due to a back injury makes the team.
Innocent Mwebaze who made his national team debut during the Indian tour maintains his spot as well as Ronald Lutaaya and Fred Achellam who were not part of the team at the Qualifiers last year.
After Sri Lanka, the Cricket Cranes are set to make at least three more tours as they continue preparations for their maiden appearance at the senior World Cup.
They will be among the 20 teams that will compete at the 9th edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in West Indies and the United States starting 1-29 June.
At the world cup, Uganda is placed in Group C alongside New Zealand, PNG, Afghanistan and co-hosts West Indies.
The travelling team
Roger Mukasa, Simon Ssesazi, Robinson Obuya, Fred Achellam, Dinesh Nakrani, Frank Nsubuga, Brian Masaba (Captain), Alpesh Ramjani, Kenneth Waiswa, Ronald Lutaaya, Cyrus Kakuru, Henry Ssenyondo, Bilal Hassun, Juma Miyagi, Innocent Mwebaze.
The Schedule
10/2/2024 Arrival in Srilanka
11/2/2024 Practise Session , Galle International Stadium
12/2/2024 1st T20 Match, Galle International Stadium
13/02/2024 2nd T20 Match, Galle International Stadium
14/02/2024 Rest Day
15/02/2024 Practise Session , Galle International Stadium
16/02/2024 3rd T20 Match, Galle International Stadium
17/02/2024 4th T20 Match, Galle International Stadium
18/02/2024 5th T20 Match, Galle International Stadium
19/02/2024 Rest Day in Galle
20/02/2024 6th T20 Match, Galle International Stadium
21/02/2024 7th T20 Match, Galle International Stadium
22/02/2024 Rest Day
23/02/2024 Departure
Courtesy Photos
