Ahead of the forthcoming Pearl of Africa T20I Series, Uganda’s national senior men’s cricket team, the Cricket Cranes, resumed training yesterday with a T20 practice match at the Lakeside Oval in Entebbe.
The session had a mix of players from the senior team and Uganda A, who were split into Red and Yellow teams. Notably present was Vamsi Khrisna, a new addition from India, who wasted no time making an impression despite having arrived in the country just a day earlier.
Khrisna, a wicketkeeper-batsman, showcased his batting prowess by getting the Red team off to a fiery start in their chase of 112 runs. He blasted 20 runs off just 14 balls, including four consecutive boundaries off pace bowler Juma Miyaji. Miyaji eventually had the last word, bowling out Khrisna in the fourth over, but the newcomer’s explosive start turned heads, including that of assistant coach Jackson Ogwang, who is currently overseeing the team in the absence of head coach Abhay Sharma.
Another standout performer was Anas Baig, son of former Cricket Cranes player Akbar Baig. Often criticized for inconsistency during his time with the U19 side, Baig silenced critics by scoring an unbeaten 62, his seventh career half-century. This follows a 30-run performance in Tuesday’s game, bringing his two-day total to 92 runs and bolstering his case for national team selection.
Training will continue next Monday, with additional practice matches scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday. Head coach Abhay Sharma is expected to return from India next week, joining the team as they intensify preparations.
Several key players, team captain Riazat Ali Shah, Alpesh Ramjani, Dinesh Nakrani, Shrideep Mangela, and Raghav Dhawan, are currently abroad but are expected to rejoin the squad next week. Fast bowler Cosmas Kyewuta was absent due to a fractured finger sustained last Sunday while playing for Ceylon Lions against Wanderers in the National Men’s 50 Over League.
The Pearl of Africa T20I Series, scheduled for July in Kampala, will feature six teams: Uganda, UAE, Kuwait, Namibia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe A. Uganda are the defending champions, having beaten Kenya by six runs in the 2021 edition held in Entebbe, which also featured Nigeria.
This tournament marks Uganda’s second international outing of the year, following their participation in the Hong Kong Tri-Series with Bahrain and Hong Kong four months ago.
