Cricket Cranes braced for Namibia Tour
KAMPALA- Cricket Cranes coach Laurence Mahatlane said; ‘i intend to win the five-match Castle Lite Series against Namibia’ that bowl off later this week in Windhoek during the team’s official flag-off ceremony at the National Council of Sports (NCS) Headquarters in Lugogo.
Mahatlane’s men play two 50-over (Limited Over) matches and three Twenty20s that have International Cricket Council (ICC)’s ranking status at the Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek from April 2-9 and the South African tactician wants to give the hosts a run for their money.
“It is an exciting tour as Namibia are where we want to be,” said Mahatlane.
“It will give us the opportunity to see where we are against a One Day International (ODI) team and what areas we still need to work on. But it doesn’t mean that we are not going to compete. I actually intend to win.”
NCS General Secretary Dr Patrick Bernard Ogwel, who flagged off the 19-man team that will travel with eight officials, was quick to laud Uganda Cricket Association (UCA)’s governance and tireless work in ensuring that teams at all levels always get preparation tours against formidable opposition.
“Last year in September, Cricket was one of the first sports to show interest to resume activity when the government asked the federations whether they would be able to keep the SOPs in place while playing,” recalled Dr Ogwel.
Borrowing a leaf
“Other sports federations should borrow a leaf from this type of organisation and readiness. Now I urge you to follow the SOPs further when you travel. I don’t want what befell the Silverbacks when they couldn’t play in Egypt to happen to you.”
And UCA have showed that they will leave no room for error by acting swift to take the full contingent for the Mandatory Covid Testing soon after the flag-off and followed the act by checking the team into a bio-bubble in Kololo where the team will reside until their flight in the wee hours of Friday morning.
The team will also have another bout of testing on Wednesday before the final 14-man squad for the tour is selected.
The Namibians are just seven months away from their T20 World Cup campaign in India, while both countries are also preparing for ICC 2022 T20 World Cup qualifying, and are deep into 2023 World Cup pathways events.
Uganda, who have a decisive outing to Jersey this September, are atop of the ICC World Cricket Challenge League B after winning five out five in Oman 2019. Another dominant show will leave them on the brink of playing ODIs.
Cricket Cranes Squad For Namibia Tour
Frank Akankwasa, Gerald Mubiru, Trevor Bukenya, Jonathan Ssebanja, Frank Nsubuga, Simon Ssesazi, Ronak Patel, Fred Achelam, Kenneth Waiswa, Riazat Ali Shah, Cosmas Kyewuta, Dinesh Nakrani, Henry Ssenyondo, Emmanuel Hasahya, Arnold Otwani (vice-captain), Brian Masaba (captain - pictured), Roger Mukasa, Saud Islam & Hamu Bagenda Kayondo
