• Event: ICC Challenge League B
• Host: Tanzania
• Dates: August 7 – 19

In 2022, Uganda’s Cricket Cranes headed to Jersey for the final leg of the ICC Challenge League in top spot but were vulnerable because Jersey and Kenya had them in sight. They needed at least a win against those two to move on to the global qualifiers, and fate wouldn’t have it; they lost to both teams and missed out on qualification by net run rate despite finishing on the same number of points as eventual group winners Jersey.

In 2026, there are similarities in the context: Uganda is top of the table, but not out of sight from Italy and Hong Kong; the man who started the run in 2019, winning five out of five in Oman, is now in charge at the back end. Steve Tikolo wouldn’t want the events of 2022 still hanging over his team. The difference is now that at least two teams, and not one team, move on to the next round, and at least two wins might be enough to advance as the second best team.

The Cricket Cranes final 14 has little or no surprises; Riazat Ali Shah will lead the quest in Tanzania, and Kenneth Waiswa will be his assistant.

Waiswa earns his place back in the side in a format that brings out the best of him; he has scored big runs in the local league for his JACC side, and even on his short stint in the UK, he scored big in the 50-Over games.

Sumeet Verma featured in the T20 World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe, but this will be his first outing with the Cricket Cranes in 50-Over cricket. He adds more steel to the middle order and makes the tail longer with his range hitting and power.

Raghav Dhawani scored the most runs during the second round in Hong Kong, and his partnership with Simon Ssesazi at the top will be critical in setting the stage.

Simon Ssesazi got the nod ahead of Robinson Obuya, and he has been stacking up the runs this year. He is not a surprise inclusion given that in his last innings in the Challenge League he scored a century against Hong Kong. Ssesazi scored a century on the Tour to India, and he has not stopped his hot streak; he notched up another century for his local club in Rwanda, and the Cricket Cranes will be hoping that his hot hand continues in Tanzania.

Dinesh Nakrani is recovering from an injury, but his all-round skills always give the team good balance. Alpesh Ramjani has been integral in the first two rounds, and he will need to continue that good form with both ball and bat to give Uganda the edge.

Henry Ssenyondo showed how much he is a must rather than an afterthought in the first leg in Uganda; he turned the game in the fixture against Italy, and if there had been any doubts about him, he had exorcised them with that performance.

Fred Achellam didn’t find a lot of favour with the last coach, but Steve Tikolo has given him a new lease of life, and he will share the glove duties with Cyrus Kakuru.

Juma Miyaji and Cosmas Kyewuta will lead the line as usual, but they have no backup, so there is little room for error with their fitness.

The surprise inclusion is the youngster Gerald Olipa; the S6 vacist has taken to international cricket like a duck to water. He showed good form on the Tour to India, and that form has been rewarded. He might not get a lot of game time, but he has shown that he is not afraid of the big stage.

The Cricket Cranes will depart Uganda on August 2 and play a warm-up series which will include Tanzania and Italy before the main event starts on August 7.

Uganda will play host Tanzania in their first game of the tournament. If the Cricket Cranes can finish among the top 2 teams, they will qualify for the Global Qualifiers next year in February.

The Travelling Squad: Riazat Ali Shah (Captain), Juma Miyaji, Fred Achelam (Wicketkeeper), Cyrus Kakuru (Wicketkeeper), Dinesh Nakrani, Joseph Baguma, Henry Ssenyondo, Sumeet Verma, Simon Ssesazi, Alpesh Ramjani, Kenneth Waiswa (Vice Captain), Cosmas Kyewuta, Gerald Olipa & Raghav Dhawan

Non-Travelling Reserves: Mathew Musinguzi & Robinson Obuya