Tikolo wary of underdogs

Ugandan players are beaming with confidence ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Africa Division Twenty20 World Cup Qualifiers bowling off in Kampala tomorrow.

Whereas the players are excited about the prospect of challenging for honours and representing their country again, Uganda’s batting coach Steve Tikolo is wary of the ‘little known’ teams that could spoil his team’s party.

“We are the home side and everyone expects us to be settled,” said Tikolo, who is rated as the best batsman to have graced the game outside Test-playing nations.

“But it is the small teams that are ranked below us that I am worried about. T20 is anyone’s game and whoever clicks first can win,” the former Kenyan captain added. “There is hardly any time to bounce back and we want to guard against any surprises from them.”

Tikolo has had a look at Nigeria and knows something about Tanzania, having played in their lucrative T20 franchise competition two years ago. Botswana, though, pose the ‘unknown quantities’ question.

“Nigeria are a good bowling and fielding unit but their batting can be ruffled easily,” Tikolo revealed in his analysis. “Botswana have been on the rise and it is them that we know nothing about. We’ll have to tackle them as they come.”

Elsewhere, UK-based Charity Cricket Without Boundaries (CWB) received a Shs13m donation from Standard Chartered Bank to raise HIV/AIDS awareness with cricket as the platform.

Head of sales and derivatives Mark Bitarahebo handed the dummy cheque to Gavin Reynolds, the head of the volunteer team at Oasis Restaurant, Lugogo yesterday morning.

Tomorrow

Uganda vs. Kenya (10am, Kyambogo)
Botwana vs. Tanzania (10am, Lugogo)
Uganda vs. Nigeria (2.30pm, Lugogo)
Kenya vs. Tanzania (2.30pm, Ky’bogo)

Sunday
Uganda vs. Tanzania (10am, Kyambogo)
Nigeria vs. Botswana (10am, Lugogo)

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