Uganda A side pushes UCA to stay

For long, there may have been questions and need for a strong men’s Uganda A side but perhaps, not answered.

Sources within the UCA hierarchy indicate there was even no budget for Uganda A to honour the invite to the Emerging Invitational Twenty20 Championship by Rwanda Cricket Association.

However, Uganda A made a trip out of the country for the first time and went on to win five and lose one of six round-robin matches before beating the Zimbabwe Emerging side by seven wickets in the final played in Kigali at the weekend.

“An eye opener tournament this was,” remarked Uganda A coach Davis Turinawe after skipper Roger Mukasa and company celebrated their success at Gahanga International Cricket Oval.

The second best combo - 63 runs - was shared by Mukasa and Ssesazi for the first wicket enroute to a successful chase of 78 runs against Zimbabwe Academy in the final on Saturday.

“It was a good gesture by Rwanda Cricket, Zimbabwe Cricket and UCA to give fringe players playing time,” said Turinawe.

Uganda A comprised some Cricket Cranes’ players like Mukasa, Simon Ssesazi and experienced Jonathan Ssebanja, who were dropped for the recent home leg of the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League (CWCCL) B in Lugogo and Entebbe.

Other players included U-19 graduates Pascal Murungi, Ronald Lutaaya, Cyrus Kakuru, Majid Musa and Joseph Baguma all who continue to knock the door for permanent slots in the Cranes’ set-up.

Then, there are players who have great mileage but never hit the desired top stage; Calvin Watuwa, Siraj Nsubuga and pace man Ivan Baidhu, who was part of the U-19 unit some 11 years ago.

“Our structure puts much emphasis on the main team(s). Any quality playing time for the bench and/or out of touch players is a plus in any setup so kudos to UCA for buying in into the ‘A’ team arrangement,” Turinawe reacted.

And there are some positives too. Fast bowlers Baidhu and Ssebanja’s experience proved too big for the opposition, on many occasions. Then Lutaaya and Murungi got some room to take up huge responsibility at a bigger stage than for teenagers which is vital for the near future.

However, the questions for UCA were many too. First, opening batsmen left-hander Ssesazi and Mukasa struggled to convert scores. Neither of them struck a half-century, which compounds the challenge in regaining top-order slots in Cricket Cranes’ coach Abhay Sharma’s plans.

Yet, actually none of the team members made it to 50 individual runs in any innings. “Some players found it hard going, adjusting or adapting… Clear signs that they still have work to do especially at this tier.”  

Mukasa though created Uganda’s biggest batting partnership in the tournament, of 67 runs with Lutaaya for the second wicket when they beat Rwanda XI by seven wickets on November 21.

The biggest question is however, Uganda A stage is great but can UCA sustain it? “Obviously, I would want a permanent arrangement regarding these second tier teams and the discussions are already being held (within UCA). Hopefully this result is what’s needed to rekindle the process,” added Turinawe.

We understand it cost UCA about $10000 (Shs37m) to facilitate Uganda A to Rwanda. It could cost more if the same side is to get busier by travelling further distances to face bigger opposition in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Qatar, and India or even in Bahrain or Oman.

For Turinawe and team manager Richard Okia, there is need to find more players who may have fallen out of the systems, especially the last three classes of the U-19 squads as well as local-based players who have never had international debuts for either T20 or List A formats.

The same stage, if UCA chooses to invest, could become the bedrock for some missing souls like Arnold Otwani, Frank Akankwasa and Zephaniah Arinaitwe Katungi among other players who may fall out of the pecking order or in search for form for the Cricket Cranes.

Otherwise, national team selector Nehal Bibodi, Okia and Richard Lwamafa could choke on a short list of players for the busy 2025 and 2026, as witnessed over the past two years, with the 2023 Tour of Namibia standing out. 

UGANDA A SQUAD FROM RWANDA:

PLAYERS: Simon Ssesazi, Roger Mukasa (C), Anas Baig, Ronald Lutaaya, Cyrus Kakuru, Pascal Murungi, Calvin Watuwa, Joseph Baguma, Siraj Nsubuga, Steven Wabwose, Christopher Kidega, Ivan Baidhu, Majid Musa, Jonathan Ssebanja

OFFICIALS: Davis Turinawe (Head Coach), Richard Okia (Team Manager), Habiba Kulusum Anguyo (Physiotherapist), Eric Wandera (Umpire) 

TOURNAMENT STATISTICS - UGANDA A

BEST BATSMEN

Roger Mukasa

Inn: 7 | Runs: 144 | Avg: 20.57 | Strike Rate: 115.20

Simon Ssesazi

Inn: 7 | Runs: 139 | Avg: 23.17 | Strike Rate: 102.96

Ronald Lutaaya

Inn: 7 | Runs: 133 | Avg: 22.17 | Strike Rate: 109.02

Pascal Murungi

Inn: 7 | Runs: 73 | Avg: 12.17 | Strike Rate: 69.52

BEST BOWLERS

Ivan Baidhu

Inn: 6 | Wickets: 12 | Eco: 5.41 | Avg: 9.92

Siraj Nsubuga

Inn: 7 | Wickets: 10 | Eco: 4.78 | Avg: 12.9

Joseph Baguma

Inn: 7 | Wickets: 9 | Eco: 4.89 | Avg: 14.67

Jonathan Ssebanja

Inn: 6 | Wickets: 9 | Eco: 5.39 | Avg: 13.78