Uganda’s Cricket Cranes will begin their journey towards the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup without three key players when they compete in the Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier C in Abuja, Nigeria.
The October 18–25 tournament offers Uganda an opportunity to revive their World Cup ambitions after failing to qualify for the 2026 edition.
Captain Riazat Ali Shah leads a 14-man squad seeking one of two available places at the Africa Regional Final, the next stage of qualification.
Uganda will face hosts Nigeria, Zambia, Mozambique, Lesotho and The Gambia in a competition where consistency will be crucial.
The Cricket Cranes enter the tournament as the highest-ranked team, occupying 21st position in the ICC Men’s T20I rankings.
However, their preparations have been complicated by the absence of experienced all-rounder Dinesh Nakrani and fast bowler Cosmas Kyewuta, both sidelined through injury.
Spinner Matthew Musinguzi is also unavailable because of academic commitments, leaving the technical team with important selection decisions.
World Cup return drives Uganda’s ambitions
Uganda’s qualification campaign comes two years after the country made history by appearing at its first senior men’s ICC T20 World Cup in 2024.
The tournament, staged in the West Indies and United States, marked a significant milestone for Ugandan cricket.
The Cricket Cranes registered their maiden World Cup victory against Papua New Guinea, although defeats against Afghanistan, the West Indies and New Zealand ended their campaign in the group stage.
That experience raised expectations for Uganda, but the team subsequently failed to qualify for the 2026 tournament.
Zimbabwe and Namibia secured the two available qualification places at the 2025 Africa Regional Final, leaving Uganda outside the competition.
The Abuja assignment now presents the first opportunity to rebuild towards another appearance on cricket’s biggest stage.
However, finishing among the top two in Nigeria will only guarantee progression to the Africa Regional Final, not direct qualification for the World Cup.
Injuries test Cricket Cranes’ squad depth
The absence of Nakrani and Kyewuta represents a significant challenge for Uganda’s preparations.
Nakrani offers experience and balance through his contributions with both bat and ball, while Kyewuta provides pace and wicket-taking options.
Their unavailability places additional responsibility on established players Kenneth Waiswa and Alpesh Ramjani, alongside the remaining bowling attack.
Juma Miyaji, Joseph Baguma and Enock Kasaija will be among the players expected to provide bowling options throughout the tournament.
Despite those setbacks, Cricket Uganda believes the selected squad has sufficient quality to compete for qualification.
“We go as the highest-ranked team and we hope to play the highest-ranked team and hopefully we shall qualify for the Regional Final,” selector and Head of Pathways and High Performance Richard Okia said.
The selection follows assessments during domestic trials and international assignments in Windhoek, Mumbai, Dar es Salaam and Kigali.
These engagements have allowed the technical team to evaluate different combinations while expanding Uganda’s available playing options.
Young players handed opportunity
The squad also provides opportunities for emerging cricketers seeking to establish themselves at senior international level.
Pius Oloka returns to the national team after previously representing Uganda as a teenager against Namibia in Windhoek in July 2023.
Top-order batter Anas Baig Mirza also returns following appearances during Uganda’s Mumbai tour and the Continental Cup in Kigali.
Gerald Olipa and Charles Musemeza retain their places, while Musemeza and Cyrus Kakuru offer wicketkeeping options.
Olipa’s recent performances have strengthened his case for international selection after he was named Most Valuable Player in the Waterfalls Elite League.
He scored 228 runs during the competition, including three half-centuries, highlighting his growing importance among Uganda’s emerging batting prospects.
Head coach Steve Tikolo and assistant Jackson Ogwang will be responsible for integrating the younger players into a squad carrying considerable expectations.
Nigeria showdown could shape qualification
Uganda begin their campaign against Zambia on October 20 before meeting Lesotho the following day.
They face The Gambia on October 23 and Mozambique on October 24 before concluding their campaign against hosts Nigeria on October 25.
Nigeria, ranked 40th, are Uganda’s closest challengers on paper and could present the strongest test of their qualification credentials.
Playing at home also gives Nigeria an opportunity to challenge Uganda’s status as tournament favourites.
However, the Cricket Cranes must negotiate five matches in six days, leaving limited recovery time between fixtures.
The short format increases the importance of disciplined bowling, reliable batting partnerships and effective fielding throughout the competition.
For Uganda, the objective extends beyond advancing from Abuja.
The tournament will test whether the Cricket Cranes can combine their World Cup experience with emerging talent to build another competitive international side.
A top-two finish would keep alive Uganda’s ambition of returning to the global stage in 2028, four years after their historic World Cup debut.
Uganda’s 14-man squad: Riazat Ali Shah (captain), Robinson Obuya, Raghav Dhawan, Gerald Olipa, Sumeet Verma, Kenneth Waiswa (vice-captain), Alpesh Ramjani, Pius Oloka, Anas Baig Mirza, Charles Musemeza, Cyrus Kakuru, Juma Miyaji, Joseph Baguma and Enock Kasaija.