Results Summary – Five Matches

  1. Thursday, Feb 8 – Twenty20 Qatar President XI 130/8 beat Uganda 117/5 by 13 runs
  2. Friday, Feb 9, 50-Overs Day/Night Game Uganda 191/10 in 46.3 overs beat Qatar 186/9 in 50 overs by five runs.
  3. Saturday Feb 10 – Twenty20 Game Qatar 132/7 lost to Uganda 134 for 4 by six wickets and two balls remaining.
  4. Sunday Feb 11, 45-Over Game Qatar President’s XI 244/7 beat Uganda 232 all out by 12 runs.
  5. Tuesday Feb 13, Twenty20 Game Qatar 121/6 Uganda 107/9 Uganda lost by 14 runs

*Qatar edge five-match series 3-2

KEY POINTERS

• The tour will go down as success on many fronts for Uganda Cricket Association (UCA), the 17 players on tour and team management. Many barriers have been broken on this historic and maiden trip by cricketers to the small but cash-rich gulf nation.

• UCA is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) and Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) to foster this union that is destined to turn into an annual series that will also see some Ugandan players also feature in Qatari competitions. A working document has already been drafted, agreed to by both parties in principle and only awaits official signing next month by UCA chairman Bashir ‘Badu’ Ansasiira and Cricket Cranes Team Manager Jackson Kavuma, who is also the Head of International Relations at UCA.

• Uganda lost the series 3-2 to the hosts but the positives picked up by the Team Analyst Alvin Bagaya and coaches are worthy a pat on the back for each member of the playing squad. Uganda has batted out all its overs, save for one match – which was also still won.

• Uganda was outclassed, outmuscled and outwitted when the two countries last met in Nairobi last year (September 2016) during a Four-Nation Quadrangular Tournament. The Qataris won the 50-Over game by five wickets after Uganda set 265 and also scooped the only T20 by six wickets (chasing 105) then. But Uganda has muscled them pound for pound this time round and managed to convincingly defeat the hosting nation’s senior side twice.• The emergency of young players on the tour has been a good glimpse into the future. Six youngsters are on tour here and couple of other seniors got their debuts, too.

• Paceman Bilal Hassun and exciting 19-year-old all-rounder Riazat Ali Shah got their official debuts. Then left-hand opening batsman Simon Ssesaazi, right-arm opening bowler Trevor Bukenya and wicketkeeper Fred Achelam got their debuts as well and showed they can rub shoulders with the big boys at this stage.

• Ssesaazi and Hamu Kayondo picked up Man of Match awards. But it was Deus Muhumuza, who emerged as the revelation of the tour. He reminded his teammates of his prowess with ball and proved that he is steadily mastering the batting trade with a half century amongst other steady knocks. The team camaraderie has also grown notches up with the seniors on the team helping the juniors not to feel unfazed.

OFF THE FIELD

• On the day off, February 12 – the team got a chance to tour the fast-developing gulf nation.

• Whereas some visited and had a complimentary round of golf at the championship 27-hole Doha Golf Club course which hosts the Qatar Masters next week, others headed to the City Centre and watched Garbine Muguruza make a winning start at the Qatar Tennis Open as she powered past Duan Ying Ying 6-3, 6-4. victory over Duan Ying-Ying at the exquisite Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.

• Some light shopping was done at the City Centre Mall which is adjacent to the team hotel – City Centre Rotana Hotel and at the Villaggio Mall which is located in the Aspire Zone.

• The word breathtaking doesn’t do justice to what the cricketers experienced at the Aspire Zone. Located at the west end of Doha, the zone is the home of two Fifa 2022 World Cup stadiums including the Khalifa International Stadium - venue for the opening fixture and final as well as arguably the biggest sports gymnasium in Doha.

• QCA later hosted the Ugandan contingent at the tip of the 50-plus floored iconic Torch Doha – a symbol of Olympism and the country’s revolve to use sports as a way of seeking international recognition.

• While at the 360 revolving restaurant and lounge, the president of QCA Yousef Jeham Al Kuwari dined with players from the three teams that took part in the series and awarded each member of the Cricket Cranes a memento and gold-coated medal for playing an exciting and fearless brand of cricket.

• Team manager Kavuma and captain Roger Mukasa also exchanged mementos with Al Kuwari, who is also the president of rugby and hockey in Qatar. The Cricket Cranes wrapped up the night by doing some CSR to help promote the Fifa 2022 World Cup after the dinner alongside members of QOC and QCA.