The Cricket Cranes have established a 26-member training squad currently undergoing a 10-day boot camp in Jinja in an effort to kickstart their preparations for the T20 World Cup, scheduled for June 4-30 in the West Indies and the USA. The focus of this camp, held at the renowned Nile River Explorers, is not just on refining cricket skills but also on fostering team bonding and character-building. The team will subsequently head to the I Can We Can (ICWC) Omtex Institute in Saphale, India, for another 10-day camp later this week.
World Cup Draw and Fixture Announcement
As the Cricket Cranes delve into their intensive training, the International Cricket Council (ICC) released the World Cup groups and fixtures on January 4. Uganda finds itself placed in Group C, alongside cricket powerhouses New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan, and Papua New Guinea. Local analysts consider the draw to be relatively fair compared to other groups.
Interim head coach Jackson Ogwang expressed enthusiasm for the fixture schedule, with Uganda set to face Afghanistan on June 3 in Guyana, followed by matches against Papua New Guinea and West Indies on June 5 and 8 at the same venue. The group stage will conclude with a match against New Zealand on June 14 in Trinidad & Tobago.
Camp Activities and Objectives
The Jinja camp incorporates a diverse array of activities, ranging from nets sessions and inter-squad trial matches to team-building exercises, village coaching initiatives, and insights from Uganda’s cricketing legends and coaches, who will serve as inspirational speakers during this crucial preparation phase.
Interim head coach Jackson Ogwang commented on the significance of the camp, stating, “A camp like this helps us have clear conversations on what we can do and where we can improve. It will also remind us how far we have come as a unit and motivate us to outdo each other as we look to make our country proud.”
Group C Fixtures and Outlook
In Group C, the Cricket Cranes are set to face formidable opponents such as Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea, West Indies, and New Zealand. Coach Ogwang expressed optimism about their group, stating, “It is a fair group, and we will be looking to cause some upsets.” The top two finishers in each group will progress to the Super 8 and earn automatic qualification for the next edition in 2026, hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Training Squad Composition
The training squad boasts a balanced combination of batsmen, all-rounders, spinners, and seamers. Notable players include Roger Mukasa, Simon Ssesazi, and all-rounder Alpesh Ramjani, who recently found himself alongside global cricket stars on the shortlist for the ICC T20 Cricketer of the Year Award.
About the Boot Camp in Jinja
- Residence: Nile River Explorers, located 15 km from Jinja City Center.
- Bonding Activities: Water slide into the Nile, 60 km cycling along the Nile, nature walks along the Nile, village coaching, tubing on the Nile, and a visit to Busowoko Falls.
- Inspirational Speakers: Ranmal Keshwala, Emmanuel Tibagye, Robert Kisubi, Habibu Mugalula, Isaac Imaka, Justine Ligyalingi, Nandkishore Patel.
