Cricketers await ICC grant for World Cricket League preps

Apr 17, 2007

UGANDA Cricket Association is in a financial crisis to facilitate the national team preparations ahead of the World Cricket League in Australia next month.

By Ronnie Kintu

ICC Div 3 WCL
Darwin, Australia
May 27 – June 2

UGANDA Cricket Association is in a financial crisis to facilitate the national team preparations ahead of the World Cricket League in Australia next month.

The team is preparing for the eight-nation championship slated for May 27 to June 2 in Australia. The top two countries qualify for the 2009 mini World Cup.

The players, still in non-residential training, are facing a torrid time at Lugogo. They are without basic necessities six weeks away from the championship.

“We currently don’t have any money on the accounts but we are eagerly waiting for the annual grant from the International Cricket Council to bail us out anytime,” UCA treasurer Tony Kiwagama revealed.

The local body will receive sh36m for the team preparations and the annual sh162m as administration grant from the ICC. This will be after the ongoing World Cup in West Indies which ends April 28.

“We have already ordered for training equipment on credit from Asiatic Sports so that we pay after getting the ICC grant,” Kiwagama explained.

The team is lacking balls, coloured jerseys, batting pads, bats, shoes, and helmets for training.

The recently acquired bowling machine from South Africa also broke down and there is no money to repair it. The trial matches are also officiated by players because UCA lacks money to pay experienced umpires.

Players’ refreshments and meals only come during trial matches.
Tanzania, Italy, Hong Kong, PNG, USA, Cayman Islands and Fiji are the others to feature in Australia.

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