- Matchday 1: ICC Challenge League B
- Game 1: Uganda v Singapore
- Venue: Entebbe Cricket Oval
Cricket Cranes will face Singapore in their opening game of the first round of the Challenge League B tournament.
The hosts will want to get their campaign off to a good start in front of their home fans. The game has been shifted from the Lugogo Cricket Oval to Entebbe Cricket Oval which is more reliable, especially with the rain.
In 2022, Uganda had a false start after losing to Jersey, but two years later, Singapore could provide a different sort of challenge for the Cricket Cranes.
It’s a different format and a new experience for the Cricket Cranes as they start their campaign for the 2027 50-Over World Cup.
Coach Abhay Sharma will be in charge for the first time at home and will have faith in a new generation of players. Robinson Obuya, Shrideep Mangela, Raghav Dhawan, and Pascal Murungi are the new faces from the 2022 side, and there will be pressure on them to perform.
Riazat Ali Shah is the new man in charge and the fans will want the leadership stress not to weigh down on his contributions as a player. The go-to man for the Cricket Cranes for the last two years has added responsibility and while Brian Masaba was always calm under the pump it will be good to see if pressure brings the best out of Shah.
The Cricket Cranes will have some selection headaches, especially for those who will take the field for Uganda. Coach Sharma will have to make some tough calls for the team. Juma Miyagi and Cosmas Kyewuta should start with Herny Ssenyondo and Alpesh Ramjani the preferred slow bowling options.
Riazat Ali Shah and Dinesh Nakrani take the all-rounder slots but Kenneth Waiswa and Brian Masaba are options for the coach. Robinson Obuya and Raghav Dhawan have been the preferred opening batters but if Uganda chooses to play more all-rounder some people will be sacrificed.
A win will help Uganda lay down a marker for the other teams but in a 50-Over encounter, one bad session can ruin a whole game.
Uganda is the favourite if ICC rankings are anything to go by. Uganda is ranked 23rd in the World and Singapore is ranked 38th in the World.
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