03/02/2024
Ceylon Lions v Tornado Bee – Lugogo
04/02/2024
Wanderers v Nyakasura – Lugogo
The 2024 50 over season will have a different winner other than Damani for the 1st time five years, the Aziz Damani franchise has decided to sit out the 2024 season and that means its three teams in the men’s league and two in the women’s league wont be involved in local cricket this year. The decision for Damani not to take part in cricket activities is not well known but their exit will leave a big dent in the league especially on the livelihoods of players. Aziz Damani has been a big supporter for cricket players in terms of scholarships for education and monthly remunerations. Aziz Damani isn’t the only team that has decided to sit out of the season with Challengers also opting out of the 2024 season as well.
The withdraw of four sides out of the top flight has meant that only six teams are left in the top flight. The imbalance has meant that the six sides will play two rounds without either of the sides being relegated but two teams will be promoted to find a balance next year.
Ceylon Lions will be taking on Tornado Bee the champions of the second division from last year in Lugogo. Tornado Bee return to the big time and were the last team to win the league before Damani started its dominance. This is a balanced encounter that should be good for the neutrals as both sides will be looking at gaining an early advantage in the title race.
On Sunday Wanderers will take on student side Nyakasura in Lugogo, this encounter ended in the favor of Wanderers last season when both sides met at the Lugogo Cricket Oval. Nyakasura has a very confident group of players and have played together for a long time which gives them an edge in this particular fixture. Wanderers are regrouping after a tough season that saw them survive the drop by a whisker.
There are games in the second division which will be played on the T20 format season due to time. The sides in the second division will play double headers every weekend with the top two sides at the end of the season gaining promotion to the top flight. Jinja SSS and JACC will both be at home when they face off on saturday while Avengers will take on Budo in Budo.
