Crucial Baby Cricket Uganda Cranes` Stress and Challenges ahead of 2022 ICC U-19 World Cup in the Caribbean

Uganda is one of the 16 nations that will take part in the 2022 International Cricket Council (ICC) U-19 World Cup in West Indies.

The 14th edition of the U-19 World Cup runs from January 8^th to February 4th and Uganda, who will be making a third appearance after back-to-back editions in 2004 (Bangladesh) and 2006 (Sri Lanka) are pooled in Group B alongside powerhouse India, Ireland and African giants South Africa.

Uganda qualified for this year’s edition after winning the ICC U-19 World Cup Africa Region Qualifiers in October last year in Rwanda after outclassing log-leaders Tanzania on the last day by 8 wickets.

The Pearl of Africa had rallied to stay alive in the tournament with wins over Rwanda and Nigeria after falling to pre-event favorites Namibia on the first day of the continental meet. The full Ugandan contingent comprises of 15 players and nine officials.

Unfortunately, two players that were part of the successful qualification campaign in the Rwandan capital Kigali; vice-captain Ismail Munir and pace bowler Akram Nsubuga failed repetitive Covid-19 PCR Tests conducted in Uganda and thus missed out on the final selection. 

The two younger stars, have however, contested their ruling out of the squad dismissing Covid issues and, up to now, still believe the Uganda Cricket Association bosses only planned to leave them out of the team that travelled to the games.  

Whereas the two will be missed, the dynamic pair of exciting all-rounder Yunus Sowobi and top order batsman Fahad Mutagana were quickly drafted in as replacements and will now live the World Cup dream.

Uganda played two warm up games against Scotland on January 10th and Sri Lanka on January 12^th. The results at the two test games came with forlorn affluences and serves the Baby Cricket Cranes head coach Ivan Thawithemwira with precisely what to expect throughout the prime games at the Cup.

Going forward, before taking on Ireland on January 15th for their opening World Cup game, Uganda has very serious questions to which the technical staff must very seriously seek answers to. 

A dire schoolwork of their opponents will help the team catch some really serious ripostes as solution to the serious team’s paradox, both on and off the playing field. 

Team Uganda having narrowly missed out on appearing in 2016 and 2018, Uganda came out on the right side of a nail-biting qualification group to book a place at their third ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup.

Uganda needed a big net run rate swing in their favor going into the final matches in the Africa qualifier and they duly achieved it, dismissing Tanzania for 51 and losing just two wickets in reply to advance at Namibia’s expense.

In Cyrus Kakuru and Joseph Baguma, Uganda possessed the leading run scorer and joint leading wicket taker of the Africa qualifier while captain Pascal Murungi claimed 4-9 in the decisive win over Tanzania.

The Baby Cricket Cranes have won one match on each of their previous outings at this competition, in 2004 and 2006.

That known coach Thawithemwira’s side, is eagerly willing to show what they can do on their return to the global stage.

So, we shall look at Baby Cricket Cranes opponents India, Ireland and South Africa. We shall weigh chances, ability, experiences, team quality, times qualified for this World Cup show and resilience-team by team as pulled together against Uganda. 

Team India

No doubt, the Indian team will be among the favorites for the ICC U-19 Men’s World Cup title.

As many as 16 teams will be in fray in the competition and record four-time champions India will be among the favorites for the title. 

The ICC U-19 Men’s World Cup began in 1988 and has witnessed some remarkable moments, serving as the premier platform for promising youngsters to make their mark and get a taste of international action before stepping into senior cricket.

Ahead of the tournament, no country has won more ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cups than India and their quest for a fifth title will begin in Group B.

Beaten finalists two years ago, India are looking to go one better this time around and replicate the achievements of the class of 2018, who swept all before them in New Zealand led by current internationals Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill.

Coming up against them in the group stage are 2014 champions South Africa, competition regulars Ireland and a Uganda side making their first appearance at this tournament for 16 years.

Group B begins in Guyana before moving to Trinidad & Tobago, where one match will take place at Queen’s Park Oval and three at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

India (14th appearance)

India have only once failed to make it past the group stage at an ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup – at the opening edition in 1988 – and enter among the favorites to go all the way.

Lifting the 2021 Asia Cup served as perfect preparation, with spinners Vicky Ostwal and Kaushal Tambe shining as India defeated Sri Lanka by nine wickets in the final on New Year’s Eve.

The spin twins therefore head to the Caribbean full of confidence, as do the Asia Cup’s leading run scorers Harnoor Singh and Shaik Rasheed, and India’s strength with bat and ball will again make them formidable opponents.

Skipper, Yash Dhull for the Indian side will hope to join an illustrious list of names – including Mohammad Kaif, Virat Kohli and Shaw – to have led India to victory in this competition.

The team has won four Under-19 World Cups and has the best win percentage in ODIs (77%) among all U-19 national teams.

The team has won the Under-19 World Cup four times and finished runners-up thrice. In 2000, they won it under the captaincy of Mohammad Kaif, in 2008, they won it under Virat Kohli’s leadership, in 2012 under Unmukt Chand and in 2018 under Prithvi Shaw.

The team is currently captained by Yash Dull and coached by former India cricketer Paras Mhambrey.

Team Ireland

With Ireland appearing for their 9^th time, they qualified for their ninth ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in style, skittling Scotland for 66 in a one-sided final of the Europe qualifier last September.

Matthew Humphreys was the star in La Manga, taking 5-25, and the slow left-arm spinner from Lisburn will be eager to take that form into the big occasion.

Ireland warmed up by taking on Zimbabwe in Barbados over the New Year and though they went down 3-1 in the series, a 117-run win in the final match showed what the side captained by Tim Tector are capable of on their day.

Tenth place in 2010 is Ireland’s best performance in their eight outings to date but they won three of their six matches last time they qualified in 2018, including a memorable four-run victory over Afghanistan.

Ireland, tagging themselves as ‘the fearless challengers’ post ahead of themselves the experience at the Qualifier tournament demonstrating the side’s resilience, mental toughness, and the determination to win.

Such attributes they will need in abundance in a group stages and has been called out recently by Head Coach Pete Johnston who said:

“We have largely kept faith in the squad that won the final in the European Qualifier, as the players showed great resilience in bouncing back from defeat in the first game. The way the lads finished strongly in that tournament, defeating an experienced Scotland side twice, was a great demonstration that they know their roles and their strengths – and most importantly, they know how to go about winning games under pressure.”

The squad is led by Tim Tector, the third brother to captain the Ireland U-19s side after older brothers Jack and Harry.

Prior to the World Cup tournament, Ireland U-19s played a four-match warm-up series against Zimbabwe. While it was a 3-1 series defeat, the win in Game 4 by 117 runs showed the side were beginning to acclimatize well to the Caribbean conditions. 

Team South Africa

South Africa’s chances of success on home soil were ended at the quarter-final stage by eventual winners Bangladesh two years ago but a talented squad will hope to challenge for honors in the Caribbean.

All-rounder Dewald Brevis impressed for the Proteas youngsters in the CSA Provincial T20 Knockout competition in October – his batting style drawing comparisons with AB de Villiers – while his leg-spin caused West Indies plenty of problems in a recent warm-up series against the home nation.

Left-arm spinner Asakhe Tsaka and Captain George van Heerden will also hope to make names for themselves in the coming weeks as South Africa look for a second ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup trophy.

Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada were the stars of a memorable triumph eight years ago and the current crop will be confident of following in their footsteps.

South Africa has fared well against International opposition at U-19 level. In 2008, the team made the final of the ICC U-19 World Cup in Malaysia, eventually going down to India. 

To date, various Proteas stars have come through the SA youth team structures including speedster, Wayne Parnell, batting sensations, AB de Villiers and Vaughn van Jaarsveld. 

The Tournament

The tournament will be held between 14 January and 5 February 2022, with 16 teams competing for the title that is considered the pinnacle for youth cricketers across the world. 

The competition features four groups of four teams, with the top two from each group progressing to the Super League stage of the tournament to decide the tournament winner. Teams finishing in third and fourth place in each group enter a Plate play-off.

World Cup Preliminary Round

January 15th, 2022: 

Uganda vs. Ireland, Everest Ground – Guyana

January 17th, 2022: 

Uganda vs. South Africa, Queens Park Oval – Trinidad Tobago

January 22th, 2022: 

Uganda vs. India, Brian Lara Cricket Ground – Trinidad Tobago.

Additional info sourced from NDTV Sports English Channel