2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier, Abu Dhabi

Thursday, 25th April 2024

Group A

Uganda vs Scotland 6:30pm

Sri Lank vs Thailand 2:00pm

Group B

UAE vs Ireland 2:00pm

Vanuatu vs Zimbabwe 6:30pm

On Tuesday, the Uganda Women's Cricket National team the Victoria Pearls played under floodlights for the first time against hosts UAE in their last warm-up game before bowling off their T20 World Cup qualifying campaign Thursday against Scotland at Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi.

The floodlight warm-up game Uganda lost to UAE by nine wickets was to prepare the women for the tough encounter with Scotland, which is also going to be played under the floodlights at 6:30 pm (EAT).

Victoria Pearls assistant coach Deus Muhumuza picked up some positives from the game against UAE.

“We lost to UAE as our batting did not come out well. However, playing under the floodlights is a whole new experience for the women and we expect to do better,” Muhumuza stated.

Uganda won the first warm-up game on Sunday against Vanuatu by 35 runs.

Victoria Pearls captain Janat Mbabazi who took the mantle from Consy Aweko is confident ahead of tomorrow’s game but very aware of her opponent.

“We have prepared very well since we qualified for this tournament, but still, we have to work hard to pick points from the first game,” Mbabazi said.

Scotland won their two warm-up games against Zimbabwe by 32 runs after setting up a total of 192 that Zimbabwe failed to chase and by 1 wicket against Ireland.

This is the second time Uganda is playing in the global qualifier since 2018 in the Netherlands where they failed to register a single win.

Victoria Pearls Team

Six of Victoria Pearl's sixteen players in Abu Dhabi were part of the squad that traveled to the Netherlands.

The players are Captain Janet Mbabazi and her assistant Ritah Musamali, former captains Kevin Awino and Consy Aweko, Stephanie Nampina, and Immaculate Nakisuyi.

Uganda is in Group A with Scotland, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and USA, which they will face on Saturday at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.

Group B has UAE, Ireland, Netherlands, Vanuatu and Zimbabwe.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals where the two finalists will qualify for the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup to be held in Bangladesh between September and October.