Uganda has made history by qualifying for its first-ever ICC World Cup event, securing a spot in the T20 World Cup 2024 to be held in the West Indies and USA. The Cricket Cranes clinched their place in the tournament with a dominant performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifier, finishing with five wins from their six matches.
Uganda’s journey to the T20 World Cup began with a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Tanzania in their opening encounter. However, they faced a setback in their next match, falling to a six-wicket defeat against Namibia, courtesy of a brilliant four-wicket haul from Namibian all-rounder David Wiese.
Undeterred by this loss, Uganda bounced back in style, defeating Test-playing Zimbabwe by five wickets in a major upset. Skipper Sikandar Raza’s unbeaten 48 was the highlight of Zimbabwe’s innings, but Uganda’s bowling attack, led by Dinesh Nakrani’s three-wicket haul, restricted the Chevrons to 136/7. In the chase, Riazat Ali Shah (42) and Alpesh Ramjani (40) guided the Cricket Cranes to victory with five wickets in hand.
Uganda continued their winning streak, overcoming Nigeria and Kenya with ease. A 33-run victory over Kenya sealed their qualification for the T20 World Cup, and they further solidified their position with a comfortable nine-wicket win over Rwanda in their final match.
While Uganda celebrated their historic achievement, Zimbabwe, who suffered losses at the hands of Namibia and Uganda, missed out on a place in the T20 World Cup. The Chevrons had featured in the previous edition of the tournament, where they had famously defeated Pakistan by one run.
Uganda’s qualification for the T20 World Cup marks a significant milestone in the nation’s cricket history. The Cricket Cranes will become only the fifth African nation to participate in the T20 World Cup, and their presence in the tournament is sure to inspire a new generation of Ugandan cricketers.
