Strategic Talks: Uganda’s High Performance boss Richard Okia engages with Mr. Shahid Anwar, Head Coach of Pakistan’s National Cricket Academy, to explore collaboration in coach and player development. PHOTOS/COURTESY
Richard Okia, the Uganda Cricket Association’s (UCA) Head of High Performance & Pathways, is back in the country after attending the ICC Women’s High Performance Workshop held in Lahore, Pakistan.
The multi-day event brought together; High Performance Managers, heads of women’s cricket, coaches and staff from Full and highly ranked Associate Members of the ICC, including representatives from the teams participating in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier which took place in the same city.
The global stakeholders in women’s cricket met to shape the future of the game through inclusive policy discussions, grassroots investment models, and elite performance frameworks. Representing Uganda, Mr. Okia contributed valuable insights from the country’s evolving women’s cricket structure, while engaging with leading experts from Test-playing nations and fellow Associates.
“The workshop was an eye-opener,” said Okia. “It wasn’t just dialogue – it was a solutions-driven gathering. We’ve come away with actionable frameworks that are adaptable to Uganda’s specific needs. From school programs to elite pathways and coaching structures, we now have a clear direction.”
Shared Vision: Okia (L), Ms. Rafia Haider (Director of PCB Women’s Wing), and Mr. Anwar (C) discuss cross-border cooperation to accelerate the growth of women’s cricket in Uganda.
Mr. Okia’s participation underscores UCA’s commitment to elevating women’s cricket in Uganda.
He added; “The workshop reinforced the need for structured pathways and investment in coaching. It highlighted the importance of embracing technology and performance analytics for competitive progress.”
While in Lahore, Mr. Okia also held strategic bilateral meetings with key cricket development leaders, including:
- Mr. Shahid Anwar, Head Coach of the Pakistan National Cricket Academy (NCA), to discuss possible collaborations in technical support, coach and player development, and academy placements.
- Ms. Rafia Haider, Director of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Women's Wing, with whom he explored avenues for supporting the growth of women’s cricket in Uganda through bilateral series possibilities.
- Mr. Bulbul Bashar and Mr. Golam Faiyaz of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), where discussions centered on collaboration and resource sharing, particularly in the areas of youth development and women's cricket structure factoring in bilateral arrangements.
In addition to the workshop and meetings, Okia witnessed the thrilling action at the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier, which ran concurrently. Hosts Pakistan emerged champions, while Bangladesh edged out West Indies via Net Run Rate (NRR) to secure the second qualification slot for the global event later this year.
Symbolic Exchange: Uganda’s Richard Okia (L) and Pakistan’s Shahid Anwar seal their high-performance dialogue with a ceremonial jersey swap, signaling intent to deepen cricketing ties.
The ICC used the platform to reinforce its commitment to Associate Member nations like Uganda, pledging more resources and technical assistance to grow participation and performance.
Back home, Okia is expected to present a Women’s Cricket Development Plan to UCA, focusing on:
- Expanding grassroots reach through schools and regional hubs
- Establishing structured leagues for girls and women
- Training and certifying more female coaches and umpires
- Supporting the Victoria Pearls’ High Performance Program
Oval Moments: Okia at the Gaddafi Stadium pavilion in Lahore soon after soaking in the thrilling Thailand vs West Indies showdown at the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier, gaining insight into global performance standards.
The Victoria Pearls, Uganda’s women’s national team, have made significant gains over the past two years - with improved global rankings and stronger international performances. Okia’s insights from Lahore are anticipated to energize ongoing efforts to grow the game.
“This is a turning point,” Okia concluded. “We’re excited to build from here.”
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