SA select sides to test Uganda ahead of Namibia

By Norman Katende

The Uganda Cricket Cranes  will be tested by three select sides in Cape Town, South Africa before they travel to Namibia for the ICC Division II Cricket league qualifiers on January 17-24.

According to the Uganda Cricket Association administrator Martin Ondeko, the team that is set to fly out on Tuesday for last minute training in one of Cape Town's academies has been blessed by having matches against select sides that are made up of players competing in South Africa's cricket league- the top most league on the continent.

"This will give them a chance to be tested by the same quality of players they expect to meet in Windhoek, Namibia during the Pepsi ICC Division II cricket league," said Ondeko.

Uganda, who last month faced Tikashinga , a top Zimbabwe side that has players with experience in test cricket and managed to win two of the six encounters, will be looking at the Cape Town trip to perfect their batting, which has been their biggest dilemma in international competition.

They will be looking at finishing  amongst the top four of the six country championship, so that they are able to stay in Division II.

Uganda will be contesting for the top four slots against Canada, Kenya, Namibia, Nepal and Netherlands and need to win at least two of their five  matches for them to be assured of staying in Division II.

Uganda and Nepal advanced from the Division III cricket league in Malaysia and have a chance to play in the ICC Inter-continental cup if they finish among the top two of play in the World Cup qualifiers if they finish amongst the top four.

This comes with more funding from ICC to improve on the game, mostly the development.