Lofty ambitions do not bode well on the average Ugandan sports ambition bucket list. Take football for instance.
We claim to play the best brand of football only rivalled by La Masia but where has that got us?
We’d rather exchange blows and scare away potential investors.
Is cricket any different? The boys have managed to ignite national pride by scaling African big shots – Namibia in 2012 and Kenya (albeit finishing in first place) at the Pepsi/ICC Africa T20 Championship in 2013.
These are two associate nations have been to the ICC World Cup in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 editions.
Uganda will have to pick up from where they last stumbled – the ICC Division II World Cricket League.
They beat Bermuda alright but could not find a winning formula against the rest of the competition.
Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea, United Arab Emirates and Namibia and suffered demotion.
Experts of the game have informed us that the top two teams in the WCL Division III log are guaranteed promotion to Division II and a chance to compete at the 2014 ICC World Cup Qualifiers in New Zealand where the best two teams advance into the World Cup in 2015.
A slot in the World Cup implies a windfall in corporate sponsorship, better player salaries, a hefty ICC cash incentive and a chance to watch Uganda on pay TV – at the world cup.
As a matter of fact, the government could pass another bill which authorises the right for schools in the far rustic to dismantle wooden desks and make bats just so we can promote the sport in this poor country.
Team Uganda will remember their performances at the ICC WCQ in South Africa in April 2009, where she finished 10th out of 12, against some of the tougher associate opposition including Ireland, Scotland and Canada.
Someone says, “The only difference between a big shot and a small shot is that the big shot keeps on shooting and the small shot stops shooting.”
Uganda will have to prepare for Division II against continental opposition like Nepal, USA, Oman and Italy and the hosts Bermuda.
Sebi Emi
Roar Rookie
Thanks Timmuh, you've kept the room warm with your updates, i salute you. Thankfully, the four wins were good enough to promote Team Uganda to the next level-Division II, and i'm happy we surpassed our target of gaining promotion from the division.
Sebi Emi
Roar Rookie
I'm a firm believer in baby steps. Thanks for your input
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Update: In the final round Uganda surprisingly lost to Oman but were never in danger of losing top spot. The USA was betaten as well, and Nepal did enough to claim second on the table. USA had looked likely to go through, but faltered in the final round. In the final, it was Nepal who won with 5 wickets and 10.4 overs to spare; but both Nepal and Uganda have booked passage to New Zealand for the World Cup qualifiers as well as promotion to Division 2. USA beat Bernuda in the third place playoff, and Oman finish 5th ahead of Italy. Oman and Italy drop to Division 4. With Nepal winning in the end after needing results to fall their way in the final round, and Oman 5th but knocking over Uganda, it looks as though there might not have been much between most of these teams.
Johnno
Guest
Nice article. For me Uganda, like all these African nations eg Kenya , have the potential and a natural love of cricket, just need the money put in for high performance coaching, and facilities. With the links to the British, with Uganda being part of the commonwealth, the English influence with sports like cricket flow through and have histories in Africa. South Africa of course being the powerhouse, along with Zimbabwe. Good luck Uganda, like Kenya the talent is there just need the money invested into cricket. Test cricket zero chance forget it, but there is a future for Uganda at ODI and T20 level.
sameer bagale
Guest
Nepal is now playing beautiful cricket to achieve glory...they are hardworking and talented guys...hope they will win that difficult match against uganda and make us proud...
Timmuh
Roar Guru
WCL Div 3 Update. [Stolen from Cricinfo] One match to play and it looks like Uganda are through to the World Cup qualifiers in New Zealand. They sit on top, unbeaten from 4 games with 5th placed Oman to come. Even if they lose that, they can finish second at worst and would have to fairly badly to drop behing the USA. USA are probably through, but could be overtaken by Nepal or Bermuda (they play Bermuda in the last match, run rate difference is a big advantage for USA, especially over Bermuda). http://www.espncricinfo.com/wcldiv3-2013/engine/series/628074.html?view=pointstable
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Well I hope Uganda gets it's place in the sun sooner then laterSebi more power tooya Justice Transparency Equality!!!
Sebi Emi
Roar Rookie
Thanks guys for the comments, Timmuh for pointing out the rankings---as it stands, Uganda has won 2 of her two games, except for today's fixture which is ongoing (Italy restricted Team Uganda to 114/9 in 50 Overs). We should know what happens in the next 2/3 hours. Will have a piece up tomorrow which touches on the games.
Tenash
Guest
as for the WCL Div 3, i'm backing Uganda and Nepal to go through to Div 2
Tenash
Guest
thanks Timmuh pretty much what i thought. Namibia have been really impressive for a few yrs while Kenya have gone backwards. And I have big expectations of Nigeria .
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Wiki is not always the most reliable of sources, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Cricket_League, but has Uganda 21st overall of limited overs cricket, including the full member nations and 3rd in Africa. The African ranking does not include full member nations, so 5th of all nations in the continent. Kenya (13th overall) and Namibia (18th) are the Africa nations ahead of Uganda. African nations behind them, but still in the WCL are Tanzania (30th), Nigeria (37th), Botswana (39th) and Ghana (41st). A further 13 nations have an African ranking but no world ranking. The nations in WCL Division 3 are, in order of ranking from 21st to 26th, Uganda, Bermuda (#2 in the Americas behind Canada), Oman, Italy, Nepal, USA. The ICC's media guide to Wor Cricket League Divison 3 can be found at http://static.icc-cricket.com/ugc/documents/DOC_39A2C52C2073C0631E271A1E28631CD8_1366433296505_476.pdf The tournament apparently actually began on 28 April with Uganda looking like they won both games fairly comfortably. http://www.espncricinfo.com/wcldiv3-2013/engine/series/628074.html
Tenash
Guest
hey sebi , what would be Uganda's ranking in africa ? As far as i know South Africa (obviously), Zimbabwe, Namibia, kenya and Nigeria are the top 5 ranked nations in Africa
Timmuh
Roar Guru
It is easy for those of us in the "big" cricket nations to forget about the struggles of those where cricket is not a main sport or the systems are jut not in place. These types of reminders that there is a whole world of cricket outside the full member arena are most welcome. As fror Uganda's prospects, I can't comment. I hope all teams taking part learn from the experience, and that nations get the support they deserve to help grow the game generally - maybe eventually to the point where there is demand to grow the world cup rather than India and Australia leading pushes to reduce it; and the real goal of nations reaching, and being competitive in, Test cricket.