Uganda’s national cricket team, the Cricket Cranes, has been placed in Group C alongside formidable opponents New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan, and Papua New Guinea for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The tournament is slated to take place from June 4 to June 30, 2024, spanning across America and the West Indies.
Uganda finds itself in a group where it, along with Papua New Guinea, stands as the only associate cricket-playing nation, pitted against the full-member nations of New Zealand, Afghanistan, and West Indies. Expressing optimism about the challenge ahead, Cricket Cranes’ interim coach, Jackson Ogwang, conveyed, “We feel comfortable with the group; playing against the big boys will be important for our growth, and we shall go there to do our best.”
This marks Uganda’s inaugural appearance in the prestigious summer tournament, earned through their commendable second-place finish at the recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier held in Namibia.
The group draw brings both familiar and unfamiliar faces for the Cranes. While Afghanistan is a known adversary, with the last encounter dating back to 2009 in the ICC World Cricket League Division Three in Argentina, Papua New Guinea has been a more recent challenge, featuring in both the 2009 WCLD3 and the 2022 T20 World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe, where Uganda faced defeats in both encounters.
Reflecting on the history with Afghanistan, Uganda emerged victorious in 2009 with a 14-run win, led by the remarkable performance of veteran Frank Nsubuga, who scored 62 runs off 44 balls.
In contrast, Papua New Guinea has proven to be a formidable competitor, securing victories in both encounters in 2009 and 2022. The Cricket Cranes now look forward to the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as an opportunity to redefine their narrative against these familiar and new opponents.
The group opponents, West Indies and New Zealand, bring their own formidable records to the table. West Indies, having clinched the title twice in 2012 and 2016, pose a significant challenge, while New Zealand, runners-up in 2021, will be vying for their first championship.
With West Indies and New Zealand making their ninth appearance in the tournament, Afghanistan and Papua New Guinea stand at six and two appearances, respectively, emphasizing the mix of seasoned and emerging teams in the competition.
As the Cricket Cranes prepare for their debut on this global stage, the tournament’s other groups present a diverse array of matchups. Group A consists of cricket powerhouses India and Pakistan, alongside Ireland, USA, and Canada. Group B features Australia, England, Namibia, Scotland, and Oman, while Group D includes South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Netherlands, and Nepal.
