Sports
Cricket Cranes off to Tanzania for Challenge League B
Uganda currently tops the table and will be looking to maintain the winning form it displayed during the Kampala and Hong Kong legs of the tournament, which concluded in February 2025. This leg comes more than a year and a half later.
The Cricket Cranes were flagged off at Lugogo for the second round of the ICC Challenge League B in Tanzania. (Courtesy Photo)
By: Faith Kiai, Journalist @New Vision
_______________
The Cricket Cranes squad for Challenge League B was flagged off on Friday, July 31, ahead of the final leg of the competition in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Riazat Ali Shah will captain Uganda's 14-man squad and has set high standards for the rest of the team.
“We want to go all in. We want to win all games because our goal is to gain ODI status, but first we have to finish the league first,” stated Riazat.
Uganda currently tops the table and will be looking to maintain the winning form it displayed during the Kampala and Hong Kong legs of the tournament, which concluded in February 2025. This leg comes more than a year and a half later.
The last time Uganda played in the competition, Abhay Sharma was still the head coach, so the balance of the team could be different. However, the selectors have kept changes to a minimum under the guidance of Steven Tikolo.
“We are very excited to play in this tournament because we are topping the table. We have been working for a couple of months, especially in preparation for this tournament, and as a camp we have ticked all the boxes,” he said.
The last time Uganda played in the competition, Abhay Sharma was still the head coach, so the balance of the team could be different. However, the selectors have kept changes to a minimum under the guidance of Steven Tikolo.
“We are very excited to play in this tournament because we are topping the table. We have been working for a couple of months, especially in preparation for this tournament, and as a camp we have ticked all the boxes,” he said.
Uganda holds a two-point lead over Italy after winning eight of its 10 matches, with the remaining two washed out during the first leg in Kampala. The aim will be to pile on the runs and stifle the opposition with disciplined bowling to ensure the team remains in a strong position by the end of the tournament.
“The boys are looking sharp. They have been scoring runs, taking wickets and playing the way we want them to play. Our goal as a team is to win the tournament. We want to stay top, remain unbeaten and also progress,” Shah emphasised.
The pitches in Tanzania are known to offer good bounce early on but tend to favour spin bowlers as the day progresses.
The Cricket Cranes have beaten every team they have faced in the competition, meaning they must maintain a positive attitude and guard against complacency. Juma Miyaji was Uganda's leading wicket-taker during the 2025 leg, while Raghav Dhawan finished as the team's top run-scorer.
If Uganda retains top spot after this round of matches, it will qualify for the Global World Cup Qualifier, where it will face other qualifying teams. The top two teams from that tournament will then earn the opportunity to compete against Full ICC Members for places at the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.
“The boys are looking sharp. They have been scoring runs, taking wickets and playing the way we want them to play. Our goal as a team is to win the tournament. We want to stay top, remain unbeaten and also progress,” Shah emphasised.
The pitches in Tanzania are known to offer good bounce early on but tend to favour spin bowlers as the day progresses.
The Cricket Cranes have beaten every team they have faced in the competition, meaning they must maintain a positive attitude and guard against complacency. Juma Miyaji was Uganda's leading wicket-taker during the 2025 leg, while Raghav Dhawan finished as the team's top run-scorer.
If Uganda retains top spot after this round of matches, it will qualify for the Global World Cup Qualifier, where it will face other qualifying teams. The top two teams from that tournament will then earn the opportunity to compete against Full ICC Members for places at the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.