UCA salvage season with Elite League

Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) took a painful decision and called off the 2020 season last month following severe disruptions by the coronavirus pandemic.
The move that saw the men and women’s national leagues over the 50-over, Twenty20 and Sixes codes cancelled, only followed other federations like basketball’s Fuba among others who consider this season a ‘dead year’. 

But following the ease of restrictions by President Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Museveni to allow sports resume, UCA is keen on salvaging something from the last 10 weeks of the year.
With a few sponsors like Crown Beverages under the Pepsi brand on board, UCA yesterday afternoon launched the Uganda Elite League at Kati Kati Restaurant in Lugogo.
The Elite League is only for the crème de la crème of the men who have been clustered into three franchises; Bucks, Scorpions and Mambas.

Best of the best 
“We want to have our best players getting the best possible opposition in this moment coupled together with the fact that it is the only cricket we can play this year,” said Davis Turinawe, who is part of UCA’s key strategists for this showpiece.

The event is also key for UCA particularly new Cricket Cranes coach South African Lawrence Mahatlane, whose team is scheduled for a competitive Tour of  Qatar in December.
“It will give selectors a benchmark to select a team for that proposed tour,” Turinawe stated.
The League will be played in a T20 round-robin format from October 15-21 by the three 14-man teams and 12 matches will be played to determine who features in the final.

All matches will be played at Lugogo Oval in order for UCA to adhere to specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in line with guidelines from National Council of Sports (NCS) and the Ministry of Health.  “The players will be in a bio-security bubble (quarantine centre) ,” explained Turinawe, the former national coach of Rwanda.

“The tournament is only in Lugogo for obvious reasons; it is easy to monitor the players, there will be a health official offered by the UCA to monitor them in line with SOPs and Lugogo is enclosed so the proceedings can be controlled.” Part of the SOPs indicate there are no fans allowed and not all journalists are guaranteed access to Lugogo.  “That will be the catch but we are planning to stream all games live and interviews will be conducted in a safe manner with limited physical interactions,” added Turinawe.

Sunday Monitor understands the list of sponsors is set to grow before the first ball and on yesterday, the three franchises were auctioned to different business moguls and Asian communities in order to add pomp and style to the event.  

Scorpions: 
Brian Masaba (C), Zephaniah Arinaitwe, Calvin Watuwa, Charles Waiswa, Gerald Mubiru, Steven Wabwose, Trevor Bukenya, Derrick Bakunzi, Innocent Mwebaze, Wasim Butt, Lawrence Ssempijja, Jarfer Ochaya, Davis Karashani, Shahzad Kamal
Reserves: Ramathan Ochimi, Christopher Kidega
Coach: Michael Ndiko 

Bucks: 
Aneef Shah, Arnold Otwani (C), Deus Muhumuza, Robinson Obuya, Emma Isaneez, Frank Nsubuga, Fred Achelam, Jonathan Kizza, Jonathan Ssebanja, Simon Okecho, Simon Ssesaazi, Siraje Nsubuga, Richard Agamire, Robert Ajuna.
Reserves: Pius Oloka, 
John Gabula
Coach: Habibu Mugalula

THIRD TEAM

MAMBAS: 
Cosmas Kyewuta, Ronald Puwata, 
Daniel Ruyange, 
David Wabwire, Frank Akankwasa (C), 
Hamu Kayondo, Henry Ssenyondo, Kenneth Waiswa, 
Ashraf Senkubuge, Rogers Olipa, Irfan Afridi, Emmanuel Hasahya, 
Perry Wazombe, Younus Sowobi
Reserves: Annas Baig, Ronald Opio
Coach: 
Jackson Ogwang