With the decisive ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League B round drawing closer, Cricket Cranes assistant coach Jackson Ogwang believes Uganda is moving in the right direction despite admitting the team is not yet at its best.
“We are happy that everyone is in camp now,” Ogwang said after Thursday’s training session. “All our foreign-based players have arrived and we have a full squad. A few players have minor niggles, but the physio is working on them.”
Uganda heads to Dar es Salaam in August as leaders of the Challenge League B standings with 18 points and a healthy net run rate of +2. A top-two finish will send the Cricket Cranes to the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off, keeping alive their hopes of reaching the 2027 Cricket World Cup and moving closer to permanent One Day International (ODI) status.
Ogwang said fielding was the focus of Thursday’s session as the coaching staff looks to sharpen an area that often decides tight matches.
“We worked on high catches, flat catches, ground fielding and decision-making during run-outs. It was a short but intense session that will help us make better decisions under pressure.”
While pleased with the team’s progress, Ogwang believes there is still room for improvement.
“We are heading towards 100 percent, but we are not there yet. I would say we are at about 70 percent,” he said.
He explained that the coaches are still finding the right balance after welcoming back players who missed previous Challenge League rounds, while also assessing newcomers who have impressed in domestic cricket.
“Sumeet Verma and Simon Sesazi have looked good and are pushing for selection. Right now, we are trying to get the right combinations and improve in key areas, especially batting. We want to bat through the full 50 overs and build the partnerships needed to win games.”
Uganda enters the final round in a strong position after dominant campaigns in the opening two legs, first on home soil and then in Hong Kong.
The team has also benefited from a recent training tour in Mumbai, India, where the focus was on building longer innings and preparing for the demands of the final round.
Now, with a full squad in camp and Tanzania on the horizon, the Cricket Cranes know a strong finish could take them one step closer to their World Cup dream and open the door to greater opportunities on the international stage including unlocking more funding and match opportunities .
