Newly elected Victoria Pearls captain Janet Mbabazi has advised her players heading to Abu Dhabi for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier to go and make memorable moments.

Mbabazi echoed this at the team flag-off in Lugogo on Thursday.

“We have several new players on the team now, what I can tell them is to go and play to enjoy,” Mbabazi said.

The 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier is set for April 25 to May 7 and Uganda is making a second appearance since 2018 in the Netherlands.

Mbabazi is among the six players on the Victoria Pearls squad traveling to Abu Dhabi that played in the 2018 globals.

Other players are former captains Kevin Awino and Consy Aweko, Stephanie Nampina, Immaculate Nakisuyi, and Ritah Musamali.

“I have told the young girls on the team that we are going in the tournament that has big players with experience, and they should know what they are going to face,” Mbabazi added.

In Abu Dhabi, Uganda is in Group A which has Scotland, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the United States where the top two teams will qualify for the semifinal.

Group B has Ireland, and Netherlands, and hosts the United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe.

Mbabazi replaced Consy Aweko for the captaincy job after the African Games in Accra where they missed a medal bracket position.

Consy also advised her teammates to go for the Abu Dhabi job. “We should stick to what we have been given by our coaches if we are to perform better,” she said.

Uganda qualified for the global tournament after finishing second in the 2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier in Entebbe, Uganda.

Patricia Malemikia and Irene Alumo have been dropped for Phiona Kulume, Gloria Obukor, and Sarah Walaza.

17-year-old Malisa Ariokot is one of the young stars on the team traveling to Abu Dhabi, she aims to play good cricket to open doors for other young girls back home.

“We have been given everything now, I aim to play good cricket that will help doors for other young girls and our elders have done before us,” Ariokot said.

The two finalists in Abu Dhabi will qualify for the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup to be held in Bangladesh between September and October.