Cricket: Arinaitwe, Waiswa to lead way for U19s

ICC U19 AFRICA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

July 1-8, Kenya​

Format : 50 overs

There are expectations surrounding Zephania Arinaitwe and Kenneth Waiswa who clearly are the focal points on the U19s Cricket team that will represent Uganda in the ICC U19 Africa World Cup Qualifiers next month in Kenya.

When the selectors called the final 14 man squad on Tuesday, it left Waiswa and Arinaitwe as the most 'senior' players on the national junior side and no wonder they are captain and vice-captain respectively.

The team will greatly rely on Arinaitwe's batting prowess and Waiswa's all-round applications  in the winner-takes-it-all qualifier as one slot is available from the regional qualifier for the World Cup next year in New Zealand.

The two have seen a quick rise in their young careers, graduating from just the UCA Boys schools cricket week to the Jazz Safari National League currently playing for top sides KICC (Arinaitwe) and the moneyed Aziz Damani (Waiswa).

They have both been in the senior national team setup and when Arinaitwe was called up to debut for the side last year in the quadrangular series in Kenya, he did enough to impress coach Steven Tikolo; his near half ton of 46 from 49 balls when he opened with Arthur Kyobe was quite a revelation of a national star for the future.

"Basically games are won through proper batting and this is something we need to come good on in the tournament. Arinaitwe's should play calmly with a lot of responsibility as we expect him to lift the team in that area and Waiswa's abilities should help create balance on the team" said Franco Othieno, head coach for the team.

Waiswa was one of the junior cricketers who  featured on the senior team in a buildup series against Kenya ahead of Uganda's disappointing ICC World Cricket League Division 3 where they were relegated to fourth division. He (Kenneth Waiswa) was among the players who Tikolo felt did not fully impress to feature on the final team that played the qualifier.

However his experience there and with national league giants Aziz Damani leaves him well suited for an influential role awaiting him on the U19 team.

Eddy Agaba's ability to go for quick singles creates a good partnership with Arinaitwe who usually goes hard on bowlers.

"I feel safe partnering with him. He is a type of guy with aquick thinking brain" Arinaitwe said.

Strikers' trio of Frank Akankwasa , Richard Agamire and Rogers Olipa  together with Tornado's Trevor Bukenya are expected  to replicate the high playing energy levels they showcase in the league.  Frank Akankwasa has since made his presence felt in the Gnext Cricket tournament.

Charity's Steven Wabwose, Cosmas Kyewuta and Ronald Opio, Ashiraf Senkubuge and Tornado Bee's Fred Achelam, Pirates' Gerald Mubiru and KICC's Siraje Nsubuga made the cut for their relentless hard work. The team is set to leave for Nairobi next week.

Uganda is looking for a third appearance at the Worlds having featured twice  in 2002 Bangladesh and 2004 in Srilanka.

THE SQUAD

Kenneth Waiswa, Zephania Arinaitwe,Frank Akankwasa, Rogers Olipa, Richard Agumire, Trevor Bukenya, Siraje Nsubuga, Gerald Mubiru, Fred Achelam, Ashiraf Senkubuge, Eddy Adgaba, Cosmas Kyewuta, Steven Wabwose, Ronald Opio.

Reserves: Aarya Parikh, Perry Wazombe