Saudi Arabia tour to Uganda hangs in balance

PIC: UCA CEO Justine Ligyalingi addressed a press conference on Wednesday. (Credit: Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

ICC World Cricket League Division 3

May 23-30

Venues: Lugogo, Kyambogo, Entebbe

There is a new twist to the Cricket Cranes buildup series ahead of the ICC World Cricket League Division 3 scheduled for May 23-30 in Uganda.

Now, what was supposed to be a heated and all-important challenge against Saudi Arabia's first national team will not materialize.

Saudi Arabia have turned the tables around and can now only offer a reserve team, to the disappointment of the Uganda Cricket Association (UCA).

So, such a fixture against a reserve team would not really serve a necessary test for the Cricket Cranes and hence UCA are looking into more options.

"It is quite disappointing that our friends from Saudi Arabia are not able to send their senior team. We are now widening our options to see that we have a stronger opponent for a series before the WCL DIV 3," said Uganda Cricket Association CEO Justine Ligyalingi.

This was during a press conference Wednesday at Lugogo in Kampala.

Ligyalingi added that UCA will later announce the team they will host as it remains highly unlikely to have Saudi Arabia here.

Takashinga Cricket Club from Zimbabwe are the most likely side to travel for the series that have now been rescheduled to start on May 2.

Meanwhile the annual Girls Schools Cricket Week will instead start on Saturday, a date that was initially set for the start of another buildup series for the Cricket Cranes.

UCA will now fully sponsor the Girls Cricket Week.