ENTEBBE, UGANDA | THE INDEPENDENT | Sixteen players have been selected to represent the Cricket Cranes in a four-match One Day International (ODI) series against Papua New Guinea. The series will run from September 18th to September 22nd, 2024, at the Lakeside Oval in Entebbe.
The Cricket Cranes squad features Brian Masaba, Riazat Ali Shah, Simon Ssesazi, Alpesh Ramjani, Juma Miyagi, Cosmas Kyewuta, Shrideep Mangela, Raghav Dhawan, Henry Ssenyondo, Frank Nsubuga, Cyrus Kakuru, Fred Achelam, Robinson Obuya, Shaaf Mohammad, and Pascal Murungi.
This will be Papua New Guinea’s first-ever visit to Uganda. The team arrived at Entebbe International Airport on Sunday evening and is preparing for the series as part of their build-up to the first round of the ICC Challenge League A in Kenya, scheduled for next week.
For Uganda, the series serves as preparation for Challenge League B, which they will host from November 5th to 16th, 2024.
Cricket Cranes Head Coach Abhay Sharma views the series as an opportunity to test various combinations and assess players ahead of future tournaments.
Sharma also acknowledged challenges in their preparations, particularly in skill sessions, but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to deliver on the field.
“This is a preparation series for our upcoming tournament. We have to try different combinations and players and we are not thinking about the results now. We want to get the right players and combinations for future tournaments,” Abhay Sharma – Cricket Cranes Head Coach said ahead of the series.
“We have had challenges with our preparations, especially the skills sessions but I am sure the boys will give their best on the field to make Ugandans proud,” Abhay Sharma – Cricket Cranes Head Coach added.
The two teams last met at the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup in the West Indies, where Uganda claimed victory in Guyana. However, this series will see them face off in the 50-over format, offering a new challenge for both sides.
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