By Innocent Ndawula
TEAM UGANDA TO ZIMBABWE
Players: Kevin Awino (Captain), Janet Mbabazi (Assistant Captain), Immaculate Nakisuyi, Rachel Ntono, Damalie Busingye, Naomi Kayondo, Rita Musamali, Stephanie Nampiina, Joyce Mary Apio, Evelyn Anyipo, Consy Aweko, Franklyn Najjumba, Sarah Walaza, Maria Kagoya
Reserves: Barbara Mukankusi, Esther Iluko
Coaches: Habibu Mugalula, Michael Grace Ndiko
The Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) selectors have avoided the temptation of chopping and changing and named a familiar ‘Team of 14’ to represent Uganda at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Africa Women’s Twenty20 Championship in Zimbabwe next month.
National selector Richard Okia read out the side for the May 3-13 in Harare after a training session in Lugogo and composition is the same as that of the side that finished second to Zimbabwe and ahead of Kenya in the recently-concluded Victoria Tri-Series in Kampala a fortnight ago.
“There is no change. We think these are the ladies selected can represent us well,” Okia told Cricket Uganda.
“I believe they put a good show in the Series. They had a chance and all played well. And we have hope in them.”
Four changes
There are four changes from the team that won the Africa T20 gong in Windhoek, Namibia two years ago with Damalie Busingye, Sarah Walaza, Evelyn Anyipo and Maria Kagoya replacing Mary Nalule, Saidat Kemigisha, Gertrude Candiru and Carol Namugenyi. Kevin Awino remains captain and Janet Mbabazi maintains her mantle as vice skipper.
Coaches Habib Mugalula and Michael Ndiko will also have Olila’s wicketkeeper cum batsman Esther Iluko and Pioneer’s opening batter Barbara Mukankusi waiting on the reserves bench.
Those that will narrowly miss out on the flight to Harare include; Aziz Damani’s Irene Alumo and Ceylon Lions’ left-arm opening bowler Eunice Kobusingye as well as Kevin Amuge and Sarah Akiteng of Soroti Cricket Academy, who have done well for their respective clubs and are atop the statistics charts.
“We considered many factors for instance availability, coming for training sessions and for instance, Alumo did not turn up for training,” Okia reasoned.
“Not everyone can be happy with a selected team. But I believe all these players are backed up by statistics. Those who missed out were probably unavailable or did not perform to the expectations,” the former Cricket Cranes all-rounder said.
The provisional squad had primarily two camps with about 13 players training under the tutelage of Ndiko in Lugogo whereas the others were in Jinja with Mugalula. Kagoya undertook special sessions with Damani coach Yusuf Nanga, who lives in Masaka.
Selector Okia is confident the team will defend the African title and qualify for the ICC Women’s Global T20 World Cup Qualifier due August 31 - September 7 in Scotland.
“Given that they are the reigning champions, I expect them to have a good tour. Against Zimbabwe here, they were just short by about 20-25 runs,” added Okia.
Tournament format
Uganda is pitted with Namibia, Kenya and Sierra Leone in Group B while hosts Zimbabwe are with Mozambique, Rwanda and Nigeria in Group A. The group winners will meet in the final to decide who head to Scotland.
The matches in the tournament will be played as Women's Twenty20 Internationals (WT20Is), with the top team progressing to both the 2019 ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier and the 2020 Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournaments. The fixtures will take place at Harare Sports Club, Old Hararians and Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare.
Namibia staged the last edition of ICC Women Twenty20 World Cup Africa Qualifier in 2017 with Uganda beating Zimbabwe by three wickets in the final played at the Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek.
Last year, Uganda also defeated Zimbabwe by seven runs in the final of the Women's T20 Challenge held at Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare but Zimbabwe recently beat the Lady Cricket Cranes three times in the just concluded Victoria Tri-Series in Kampala.
But Uganda will hope they can arise from those doldrums and retain the continental title.
ICC WOMEN’S AFRICA T20 CUP: MAY 3-13
GROUP A: Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Rwanda, Nigeria
GROUP B: Namibia, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Uganda
TOURNAMENT FIXTURES
Group A
5 May 2019
8:30am: Zimbabwe vs. Mozambique, Harare Sports Club
12:50pm: Nigeria vs. Rwanda, Old Hararians Sports Club
6 May 2019
8:30am: Mozambique vs. Nigeria, Harare Sports Club
12:50pm: Tanzania vs. Zimbabwe, Old Hararians Sports Club
8 May 2019
8:30am: Mozambique vs. Rwanda, Harare Sports Club
12:50pm: Nigeria vs. Tanzania, Old Hararians Sports Club
9 May 2019
8:30am: Rwanda vs. Zimbabwe, Harare Sports Club
12:50pm: Tanzania vs. Mozambique, Old Hararians Sports Club
11 May 2019
8:30am: Zimbabwe vs. Nigeria, Harare Sports Club
12:50pm: Rwanda vs. Tanzania, Old Hararians Sports Club
GROUP B
5 May 2019
8:30am: Namibia vs. Kenya, Old Hararians Sports Club
12:50pm: Uganda vs. Sierra Leone, Harare Sports Club
6 May 2019
8:30am: Kenya vs. Sierra Leone, Old Hararians Sports Club
12:50pm: Uganda vs. Namibia, Harare Sports Club
8 May 2019
8:30am: Kenya vs. Uganda, Old Hararians Sports Club
12:50pm: Sierra Leone vs. Namibia, Harare Sports Club