Kampala – Members of the Ugandan national team were run by their new head coach on a sunny morning at the main cricket stadium in Kampala.
The Cricket Cranes, dressed in bright red, are preparing for the Twenty20 World Cup, a “dream come true” in a country where cricket has been eclipsed by football as the most popular sport.
But the tournament, hosted by the USA and the West Indies and scheduled to run from June 1 to June 29, has a tough road ahead.
Opponents include New Zealand and the West Indies, as well as Afghanistan and Papua New Guinea, while matches will be played in Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago.
Time is not on its side – a month ago the Uganda Cricket Association appointed former Indian first-class cricketer Abhay Sharma as the head coach of the men’s national team.
“Most of the time we don’t have time to rest. Masaba himself has become famous for his speeches.
In mid-May, the International Cricket Council named him as Pakistan’s second most successful captain in T20 Internationals (44 in 56 matches), behind Babar Azam.
“If we can get some wins in the World Cup, it will be a big bonus for us.
“So it is important as an ambassador of the game to show the country in a good light and go out there and play good cricket.”
Although this was their first World Cup as a country, Uganda was part of the East African team in the 1975 ODI World Cup, along with Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia.
Cricket was first introduced to the area by British colonial settlers in the late 19th century and became popular among the many Indian laborers brought to work on the East African railways.
Aim for the major leagues
Juma Miyagi, 21, said he hopes Uganda’s appearance at the World Cup will not only help Ugandan cricket but also help his international career.
“It means a lot to us,” said Miyagi, who has been with Crane for two years. “We expect a lot from the World Cup.”
Miyagi grew up in Kampala, Naguru, a hilltop town overlooking a cricket ground.
