Triumphant Cricket Cranes get Shs25m winning bonus
Thank you. Cricket Cranes players and officials during the luncheon at Kololo Courts December 12, 2019. For flooring every opponent in five matches in Oman, the Cricket Cranes were rewarded with a token of $7000 by Uganda Cricket Association. Photo by Eddie Chicco.
What you need to know:
- The glow on national team chief selector Nehal Bibodi’s face could barely dim after Uganda won a global event for the first time since winning the 2013 ICC World Cricket League Division Three in Bermuda.
The senior national men’s cricket team will share $7000 (Shs25.7m) bonus after winning the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup Challenge League B round one in Oman this week.
The Cricket Cranes produced its best show in almost half-a-decade by defeating all opponents Jersey, Kenya, Bermuda, Italy and Hong Kong to finish with 10 points and a Net Run Rate (NRR) of +0.743.
“That’s what we felt we could give,” Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) chairman Bashir Ansansiira announced during the team welcome luncheon at Kololo Courts yesterday evening. Vividly exhausted, the Cricket Cranes still afforded smiles and hand claps upon the revelation after a long trip aboard Fly Emirates from Al Amerat that began immediately after the six-wicket victory over Hong Kong on Wednesday afternoon.
“It has not been easy, these are strong teams. We were worried,” Ansasiira stated. “But we are lucky to have experienced players like Frank Nsubuga and the rest of the guys who contributed with bat and ball,” he added. Uganda produced the best batsman with left-hander anchor man Kamal Shahzad producing 275 runs in five innings with a highest score of 86 while pace man Bilal Hassun claimed 10 wickets, one scalp behind Italy’s Gareth Berg.
The glow on national team chief selector Nehal Bibodi’s face could barely dim after Uganda won a global event for the first time since winning the 2013 ICC World Cricket League Division Three in Bermuda.
“We are going to spread these players based on what needs to be worked on to other countries like Zimbabwe, South Africa and India before the second round in July,” remarked Ansasiira.
The 21-man contingent will share the token accordingly. “The players are first priority,” team manager Jackson Kavuma stated. “This was a team effort,” he added.
In the road to the 2023 ODI (One Day International) World Cup in India, Uganda hosts the WCCL B round two in July and there is little time to celebrate.
Final table standings
M W L NR Pts NRR
Uganda 5 5 0 0 10 0.743
Hong Kong 4 2 1 1 5 -0.157
Jersey 5 2 3 0 4 0.759
Kenya 4 1 2 1 3 0.027
Italy 4 1 2 1 3 -0.985
Bermuda 4 0 3 1 1 -1.610
