- Tournament: T20 World Cup Qualifiers
- Fixture: Uganda vs. Zimbabwe
- Date: Friday, September 26
- Time: 2:30 p.m., EAT
Uganda’s Cricket Cranes will take on Zimbabwe in their opening game of the T20 World Cup Qualifiers as they bid for a second appearance at the Global Showpiece.
Uganda finished second at the last qualifiers behind hosts Namibia and earned a ticket to the World Cup in the West Indies.
This opening fixture for Uganda has a lot of implications on this World Cup journey, for it will be against the hosts and a team desperate to get back to the World Cup. Zimbabwe will be desperate for a result and that could work for Uganda but they will have the benefit of the 12th man.
Uganda lost one warm-up game against another favourite Namibia but had a solid win against Malawi. Unfortunately for Uganda, Shrideep Mangela had to return home due to injury but he has been replaced by Ronald Lutaaya. The rest of the team is in perfect health ahead of what could be the final of the tournament if everything goes to script.
Uganda will be looking for some inspiration from their bowling if they get Zimbabwe out for cheap that will surely give their batters a chance to chase down a total. The grounds in Zimbabwe are pretty fast and runs are what will separate the boys from the men.
There is a lot of work for the bowling unit of Juma Miyagi, Cosmas Kyewuta, Henry Ssenyondo, Frank Nsubuga and Dinesh Nakrani. The batting will need to be brave against some strong bowling attacks and without Mangela, Robinson Obuya, Raghav Dhawan, Gaurav Tomer and Verma Sumeet will have their work cut out. Nakrani and Captain Riazat Ali Shah have been the match winners for Uganda in this short format and many Ugandans will be hoping that they still have it in them.
The afternoon game should attract a good number of fans at the Harare Sports Club but the Ugandans should feel the love back at home as many fans will be following on ICC TV.
