- Game 1: Uganda v Tanzania
- Venue: University of Dar Ground 1
- Date: Saturday, August 8
- Time: 9:00, EAT
Cricket Cranes will not want to get so ahead of themselves by dreaming about the next stage before they take care of the pennies on the final stop of the Challenge League B.
The three-year cycle comes to a stop in Dar es Salaam, and the newly inaugurated grounds will host the six-nation event. The cycle started in Uganda in 2024 and will conclude in Tanzania with rewards for the top two sides.
Uganda is on top of the table but only two points ahead of Italy in second place, while Hong Kong China is six points off the top but only four points behind Italy in second place.
The back-to-back games for Uganda on Tuesday and Wednesday will define the merit of their stay in Tanzania because they will be games against their direct rivals for qualification.
The passage of events then dictates that the 1st game is even more important to make sure you go into Games 2 and 3 with some momentum. Uganda is expected to deal with the other teams in the group, Tanzania, Singapore and Bahrain, but that is the same case with their direct rivals, which means to advance you have to take down the big boys yourself.
Uganda has won both their warm-up games in Tanzania against hosts Tanzania and Hong Kong China, and the headache for Coach Steve Tikolo will be choosing his final XI.
Raghav Dhawan had some discomfort in the warm-up game against Tanzania, and his runs kept the team in contention in the second round in Hong Kong China. Raghav was running out of rope in his Cricket Cranes career, but with his back against the wall, he managed a half-century in his four innings and proved very reliable at the top of the order. Simon Ssesazi is most likely to partner him at the top of the order, with Kenneth Waiswa slotting in at number 3.
Sumeet Verma managed a century and a half-century in the warm-up games, and it seems he is relishing a chance in the longer format after showing what he can do in the T20 format. Riazat Ali Shah is the number 5 batter, but after that it’s the all-rounder slots that have competition. Fred Achellam and Cyrus Kakuru seem odds-on for the gloves, so the choice will be experience over youth, but Kakuru is now far from being called a youngster. Dinesh Nakrani featured in the hard-fought win against Hong Kong China, but his fitness has been a worry, and with two big games back to back it will be a tough call for the technical team.
The slow bowling options of Joseph Baguma, Henry Ssenyondo and Alpesh Ramjani seem like a sure pick given that the wickets will favour them. Baguma picked up a fiver in the win against Hong Kong China, that will mean that one of the quicks, Juma Miyaji or Cosmas Kyewuta, might have to be sacrificed.
Some big calls will have to be made by Steve Tikolo because he knows a good start is paramount before the double-header games; a loss to Tanzania will set Uganda back because six points is out of sight when it comes to their competition.
The games will be live on ICC TV for those who want to watch.
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