By 
The Cricket Cranes are set for the T20 World Cup Qualifiers Africa finals in Namibia where they will compete against six teams for the two slots at the 2024 T20 World Cup in USA and West Indies.
The team was flagged off by the National Council of Sports officials in Lugogo on Thursday morning.
Uganda will compete against hosts Namibia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Rwanda, Nigeria and Kenya in a tournament will run from November 20th – November 30th 2023.
A change in the qualification pathway last year by the ICC meant that teams now qualify directly to the World Cup from their regions.
The top two sides at the end of the round robin format will qualify to the main event of the 20 team tournament in 2024.
Namibia and Zimbabwe were both at the 2022 World Cup in Australia and are overwhelming favorites to clinch the two slots.
Uganda who are ranked 23rd in the global T20 rankings and will be hoping for some favour in a place they are familiar with.
Uganda will also be playing against a test playing nation for the 1st time when they meet Zimbabwe on Match Day three.
Juma Miyagi and Cosmas Kyewuta miss out due to recurring injuries meaning David Wabwire and Jonathan Ssebanja keep their places.
Riazat Ali Shah and Dinesh Nakrani make a return to the team after missing the last international outing in Rwanda with Ronald Lutaaya and Pascal Murungi missing out.
Brian Masaba will lead the team under the guidance of Interim Head Coach Jackson Ogwang.
At the flag off, Interim Head Coach Jackson Ogwang went on to say that;
“The team is ready to make Uganda proud, for the last three years we have been preparing for this event and we are certain something has to finally give.”
“The focus might be on getting one over either Zimbabwe and Namibia but as a team every game is important and therefore the intensity we play with against Zimbabwe is the same energy we bring for Rwanda.”
“We aim to take care of our business and fate will decide the rest but if we play to our potential we shall be at the World Cup”
The Cricket Cranes will spend 10 days in Zimbabwe on a training tour, they will play six T20 games against Takashinga Cricket Club who are the champions of the national league in Zimbabwe.
The Cricket Cranes contingent will arrive in Namibia on November 20th ahead of their opening fixture against Tanzania on November 22nd.
Full Squad
Brian Masaba, 2. Riazat Ali Shah, Kenneth Waiswa, Ronak Patel, Dinesh Nakrani, Simon Ssesazi, Henry Ssenyondo, Frank Nsubuga, Robinson Obuya, David Wabwire, Jonathan Ssebanja, Roger Mukasa, Bilal Hassun, Cyrus Kakuru, Alpesh Ramjani
Team Officials
Jackson Ogwang (Head Coach), Emmanuel Oroma (S&C Coach), Shamim Nassali (Physiotherapist), Tusiime Steven (Team Analyst), Innocent Ndawula (Media Liasion), Charles Waiswa (Team Manager)
