Uganda Announces Squad for Historic T20 World Cup Appearance
In a stunning turn of events, Uganda, after defeating Zimbabwe and other African teams in the qualifiers, is now gearing up for Group C play in the T20 World Cup. They will be facing off against co-hosts West Indies, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Afghanistan.
Leading the team will be Masaba, with Riazat Ali Shah as his deputy. The team boasts several players with over a decade of international cricket experience, including the 43-year-old Frank Nsubuga, who is set to be one of the oldest players in the tournament.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024: Squads Announced So Far
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Nsubuga, a cult hero in emerging cricket circles, has dedicated his life to the game. He first represented Uganda in ICC events as a 17-year-old in the 1997 ICC Trophy, a pathway event on the road to Cricket World Cup 1999.
Fast-forward 25 years, Nsubuga made headlines, taking a sprawling catch approaching the boundary in a Cricket World Cup Challenge League match against Kenya in 2022.
But Nsubuga isn’t the only Ugandan player to have made an impact recently. Spin-bowling all-rounder Alpesh Ramjani is set to continue his impressive form that led to a nomination for the 2023 ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year.
One of several notable all-rounders in the squad, Ramjani claimed the most T20I wickets in men’s cricket last year, 55 of them at an economy of under five an over. Fellow left-arm orthodox spinner and squad member Henry Ssenyondo also had a strong 2023, taking 49 wickets in the same period.
With aggressive batsmen like Riazat Ali Shah and Dinesh Nakrani, and the U19 World Cup experience of young Juma Miyaji, the team is well-rounded. This is the first time Uganda will participate in a senior men’s World Cup, although they were represented in the 1975 Cricket World Cup by the now-defunct East Africa team, which included Ugandan player Samuel Walusimbi.
Uganda’s T20 World Cup campaign will kick off on June 3 against Afghanistan in Guyana.
Squad:
Brian Masaba (c), Simon Ssesazi, Roger Mukasa, Cosmas Kyewuta, Dinesh Nakrani, Fred Achelam, Kenneth Waiswa, Alpesh Ramjani, Frank Nsubuga, Henry Ssenyondo, Bilal Hassun, Robinson Obuya, Riazat Ali Shah (vc), Juma Miyaji, Ronak Patel.
Travelling Reserves:
Innocent Mwebaze, Ronald Lutaaya
‘Out of this World’ by Sean Paul and Kes: The official ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 anthem