Uganda’s national Cricket team has intensified training ahead of the International Cricket Council-ICC Twenty20 World Cup qualifier in Dubai in March. Head coach Martin Suji says the team has stepped up the drills because the event in Dubai will be very competitive.
Suji says they are training according to the kind of opposition they are to face in the championship. He emphasises fitness, game awareness, team play and tactical approach.
Uganda is pooled in Group B along side USA, Kenya, Scotland, Oman, Italy, Ireland and Namibia. Uganda qualified for the final round after beating fancied Namibia in July 2011 in Kampala.
Justin Ligyalingi, the Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) Chief Executive Officer said they will try to arrange some build-up games next month so that the players can get good match practice.
Uganda has never made it to the last round of the Twenty20 World Cup qualifier, and this is an opportunity to give a good account of themselves against some top cricket playing nations.
According to ICC, the top two teams in each group will qualify for the World Cup in Sri Lanka. The likes of Bermuda, Hong Kong, Afghanistan, Netherlands, Canada, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Denmark are pooled in Group A.
The Uganda team in training includes Davis Arinaitwe, Ankit Patel, Arthur Kyobe Ivan Baidhu, Frank Nsubuga and Abdulhamid Suleiman. The others are Almuzahim Saleh, Nicholas Kebba, Musoke Dennis, Musali Deusdedit, Muhumuza Timothy, Erumuka Jonathan, Sebanja Ali Raza and Daniel Ruyange Raymond Otim. Also in the team are Asadu Seyiga, Arthur Ziraba, Sarfaraz Chunara, Fred Isabirye, Lawrence Sematimba, Ivan Kakande, Roger Mukasa, Abu Seguya, Ronald Semanda, Irishad Suleiman, Ivan Thawithemwira, Charles Waiswa, Simon Ssesazi, Arnold Otwan, Abdullah Lubega, Narinder Singh, Brian Masaba, Abraham Alema, Shehzad Kamal, Mohammed Shafeek, and Henry Ssenyondo.
