Muhumuza determined to end Cheema trauma

Besides veteran Frank Nsubuga, few or none has been as consistent as Deusdedit Muhumuza in the Cricket Cranes side.
Since his debut against UAE in 2010, Muhumuza has only missed one major tournament with the Cricket Cranes - the 2013 ICC Global Twenty20 Qualifier.

“My statistics were poor. I didn’t bring much on the table and I was dropped,” Muhumuza recalls the time under then coach Johan Rudolph.
From then on, the all-rounder cum medium pace bowler built his craft on how make the required grade.
“Performance,” but not as simple as it sounds, “If I can’t speak with my bat then I use the ball. And I know that, short of that, I will not make it,” he said.
The 29-year-old is ever present figure for Cricket Cranes and his best moment came while on duty on home soil at the ICC Africa Twenty20 Cup in 2011.

“That’s true,” he said during an interview. Muhumuza was the best bowler with 18 wickets from nine matches as hosts Uganda lifted the title after defeating Namibia by six wickets in the final at Lugogo.
But then again, his worst career moment came on home soil too. Unexpectedly, Muhumuza was at fault for dropping hard hitter Rizwan Cheema on three before he piled 91 for Canada to defeat Uganda by 66 runs after Duckworth and Lewis Method at Lugogo Oval on May 23, 2017.
Consequently, Uganda was left terribly wounded and helplessly got relegated at the ICC World Cricket League Division Three championship.

Nightmarish dropped catch
“A dropped catch (that) I will never forget,” Muhumuza reminisced. “The ball went through my hands very hurting. Never dropped for six months in cricket and my first drop turns out to be a nightmare? That just that killed my tournament.”
In contrast, the man nicknamed ‘Agent 88 & Baby’ is ranked among the team’s best three fielders.
He hopes that Cheema trauma can smoothly fade out of his mind when he lines-up to face neighbours Kenya as the ICC Africa T20 Cup Finals bowl off at Lugogo on Sunday.

“It’s my job to patrol the boundaries and close the point territory. Come Sunday, once I am given the chance on the field, I will have the same job,” a relaxed Muhumuza stated.
“It is tough but that’s what I signed up for. We have learnt a lot since 2017. We will focus on our plans, basics and processes. One game at a time and we need to lift our hands and perform,” he added.
Uganda will vie for the coveted two slot to the ICC Global Qualifier set for October 11 - November 3 against Kenya, Namibia, Botswana, Nigeria and Ghana over the coming week in Lugogo and Kyambogo.

MUHUMUZA AT A GLANCE
Full Name: Deusdedit Muhumuza
Nicknames: Agent 88 & Baby
Date of Birth: September 30, 1989
Club: KICC
National Team debut: 2010 ICC List A vs. UAE, in Dubai
Batting style: Right-hand
Bowling style: Right-hand medium slow
Shirt number: 88

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