Uganda will host Saudi Arabia in the Easter Bilateral series over five games; One 50 over game in Kyambogo, 3 50 over games in Lugogo and a T20 in Lugogo.
The selectors picked their 16 man squad for the ODI series; Roger MUKASA (Captain) Brian MASABA (Vice Captain) Hamu KAYONDO, Simon SSESAZI, Shahzad KAMAL, Deus MUHUMUZA, Rizat ALI SHA, Irfan AFRIDI, Henry SSENYONDO, Frank NSUBUGA, Kenneth WAISWA, Fred ACHELAM, Charles WAISWA, Bilal HASSUN, Steven WABWOSE, Emmanuel ISANEEZ.
All players chosen save for Shahzad Kamal have had some competitive cricket in the last two months through the Qatar/India tours as well as the team practice games in preparation for the Malaysia tour.
Primed and ready is the state of affairs in the Uganda camp; the tours revealed some as much as they disguised. No one returned home with a century in two weeks and thirteen games of cricket; but the starts were numerous.
Coach Steve Tikolo will be hoping that this endemic ailment to his batters has passed.
Roger Mukasa; His 150 in match simulation is more likely the quality that his coach expects him to turn out every time he steps out to bat. His maiden tour as captain did not augur good fortune, he left the tour without raising his bat; but his class is unquestioned. As a leader he has driven the lads and got the best out of most, but he like his troops must rise his game to match winning ways.
Hamu Kayondo Bagenda; He will lead the way with bat at the top fitness allowing. Without having to go into averages so far or required, he at least needs to look for his hundred. Numerous starts and no conversion do not build a top order batsman, and considering the bat friendly pitches being readied for the series; Saudi presents an opportunity to tick the senior Men’s Team hundred off the bucket list.
A hundred and an average of 65 should not be beyond him for the series. However, holding form over multiple games in a short period will be the litmus test for the bilateral series and onwards to Malaysia.
Simon Ssesazi; Simon has slowly but ably found his way onto the national team; explosive and extravagant in his school and early days, blasting bowlers all over the park for fun, he has morphed into a reserved accumulator.
He returned from Qatar as best ODI batsman; 2 innings with a highest score of 62 averaging 48 with a healthy strike rate of 91%; he showed his ability to bat long and balance attack and defense. Onwards to India he topped the batting stats for the 40 over games albeit with lower totals.
Too many starts and not enough conversion, a ton is long overdue. Saudi Arabia on home soil provides a perfect opportunity.
Shahzad Kamal; Proven Match winner, thinker of the game. These two qualities are the reason the selectors are willing to stick their neck out for Kamal. He must bring them with him in the kitbag on match day, undoubtedly good hand-eye coordination and ability to bat for long, he will also be expected to get good match practice and give the selectors an idea on fitness both match and general.
On his good day; 70 for the series is a good benchmark but with short training hours, an even 40 at 50% SR and long innings divines good tidings.
Brian Masaba; Brian has been in the side long enough to deserve the “senior player” moniker thrown at him. Starts haven’t been a problem, more the building on these starts that counts. 40(64) in his solitary ODI against Qatar, coupled with 31(52) and 27(58) against the select sides in India will not win games against Saudi Arabia.
50 with the bat for the series should be his minimum target; regardless of games played.
Average of 55 will be his test for the series.
Kenneth Waiswa; the unbeaten 45 against Qatar in a failed run chase, helped Kenneth begin to look the part again. When Kenneth pulls a muscle batting, then he is likely in good form and has spent considerable time at the crease. The Asian Town Cricket Stadium was a good start for him, so was the bowling.
He is running in harder and with better rhythm. He will be tested by Saudi Arabia on both fronts; his workload will likely be heavy, and fully test those hamstrings, there will be no easy outings over Easter.
Averages; 45 with the bat and less than 30 with the ball should serve him well.
Deusdedit Muhumuza; Deus is enjoying an amazing patch of form, through the second half of 2017 in which he scored his maiden hundred and onwards to Qatar and India where he shone with bat and ball, he has molded himself into a team talisman.
His biggest asset on Qatar India tours was his maidens that allowed bowling partners to flourish.
An Economy of less than 4 with ball sand at least 50 with the bat at number 6 or 7 should get the job done for his side. He has shown good enough form to warrant this prediction.
Henry Ssenyondo; Topping the Qatar tour bowling stats for the 2 ODIs with 19 over, 3 wickets and an economy of 3.95, he has been consistent for some time, enjoying the advantage of being a left arm spinner his valuation of the subtle art will be against some of the finest players of the craft. A worthy test.
No easy day when your opponent is a good player of spin but 3-4 in average coupled with a strike rate of 40+ with the ball should do the trick.
Irfan Afridi; Best bowler of 2017 in the league he was first to realize that bowling against the Asian teams is no elementary task. Coming up against Inam Ul Haq, Taimoor Sajjad and Kamran Khan of Qatar, he encountered masters of hanging around the crease and milking spinners, a stern test, likely to be repeated at Kyambogo and Lugogo over Easter.
Tough task, but anywhere close to below 5 an over should be good pickings for Afridi.
Frank Nsubuga; 21 year since the quadrangular in Malawi, and he is still going strong; though his strike rate isn’t as venomous as yester year, Captain and younger brother Roger Mukasa will be looking to him to run through those overs and keep the big hitters quiet, Frank comes with economy and quick over rates to the team’s effort.
Anywhere below 3 an over will be an amazing performance and his 1 and a half minute overs should suffice.
Charles Waiswa; Discipline. A word that describes his work ethic. Wickets will follow his line and length, he bowls without fuss or exaggeration, his discipline at the top the flips side to the fiery Bilal Hassun.
Bilal Hassan; quick and furious in his delivery stride, he will do well to keep his economy below 6. What he brings to the team is strike. With ball in hand, the worry will be less likely how many he leaks but more the number of opposition batsmen he sends back in his short spells of quick bowling.
10 wickets for the series over at least 4 games with a high percentage of them in the top order will have been a worthy return for him.
Fred Achelam; Uganda’s new wicket keeper graduated straight from under 19 into the side. Fred is still honing his craft, and his involvement in field sets and advice to his captain will be put to more critical analysis. Strike rotation and guiding innings to the end will be an important part of the series for him.
Strike rotation and at least 3 unbeaten knocks should suffice; Average of 35 with bat and less than 10 a match in the extras column.
Steven Wabwose; the left handed wicket keeper batsman will want to bat long, his runs will follow. Wabwose thrive off long innings.
Emmanuel Isaneez; He was right on the money throughout the India leg of the tour, bowling unplayable lengths with good carry through to the wicket keeper. An economy of 3.2 at 24 in India was top of the bowling charts for the 40 over matches.
Maintaining that will do for the series.
Strike Rotation. Partnerships. Conversion. Long Innings. High Price on their wickets.
That is how Uganda wins the bilateral series.
