The scenic Lakeside Oval in Entebbe will come alive from July 16–28 as it hosts the second edition of the Pearl of Africa T20 Series, a timely dress rehearsal for Uganda’s Cricket Cranes ahead of the T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers in September.
For head coach Abbey Sharma, the tournament is more than a competition, it’s a laboratory.
“We’re still searching for the right players, the right roles,” Sharma said at the launch.
“This is the time to experiment batting orders, bowling combinations. The goal is to be ready by August 19, when we submit our final squad.”
The 12-day series, first held in 2021, now features five teams up from three including Kenya, Namibia, UAE and Kuwait.
Nigeria, part of the first edition, won’t return this year.
All eyes will be on Namibia, ranked 16th in the world, and UAE, the tournament’s top seed at 14th. Namibia’s presence adds intrigue as they’re led by Craig Williams, Uganda’s former batting coach.
But Sharma isn’t distracted by rankings.
“You can’t compare UAE to Zimbabwe, or even Entebbe to Zimbabwe. The pressure, the conditions, it’s all different.
But this tournament gives us a platform to try things, give players chances, and find the right mix.”
With heavyweights like Kenya and Namibia in the lineup, the tournament promises high-level cricket for fans and critical preparation for Uganda’s World Cup hopes.
As Sharma summed it up, “It’s not about winning this tournament. It’s about being ready when it counts.”
