Uganda has secured victories in its opening two matches at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier C in Abuja. The team began the tournament by defeating Zambia by 87 runs. Following that initial win, Uganda maintained its performance to defeat Lesotho by five wickets in the second match. These results place Uganda in a strong position as the squad prepares for the upcoming clash against Gambia. Players continue to focus on maintaining this level of play throughout the remainder of the competition hosted in Nigeria.
Tournament Standings and Rankings
Uganda currently holds the 21st position in the world cricket rankings, while Gambia sits at 95th. Regarding the tournament standings in Abuja, Nigeria leads the table with a net run-rate of 5.6129. Uganda follows with a net run-rate of 3.8635.
Riazat Ali Shah, captain of the Uganda cricket team, acknowledged the team's current form. "We know we have not batted to our full potential in the opening games, but there is quality in this group," he said. "We are working on our decision-making and execution, and we will bounce back with more definitive performances with the bat."
Abubacarr Kuyateh, captain of the Gambia cricket team, addressed the upcoming match against the higher-ranked side. "Uganda are a tough team, and we respect what they have achieved," Kuyateh noted. "We are looking forward to playing them, competing hard and giving ourselves a chance. If we can cause an upset, it would give the cricketing world a story to remember for years."
Looking Ahead to Nigeria
Uganda is scheduled to play against hosts Nigeria on Sunday. This match serves as the final fixture for the team in the current series of group stage encounters held in Abuja. The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) oversees the event as part of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier C. Players from the Ugandan squad, including Gerald Olipa, Robinson Obuya, Raghav Dhawan, Sumeet Verma, and Alpesh Ramjani, are preparing to face the Nigerian side after their previous matches against Zambia, Lesotho, and Gambia. The outcome of the contest against Nigeria will contribute to the final standings for the tournament participants.
