Former Cricket Cranes Captain Roger Mukasa should not count himself lucky being recalled for national duty. No! In fact, the Cricket Cranes technical team were determined to keep him out of the picture until a critical moment in which they could not avoid the experienced and veteran opening batsman to the team’s fold.
“We had nothing to do. We had to name Roger to the team because we needed him to help, especially with batting.” Revealed an exclusive source to this website.
Roger Mukasa, from around 2015 through to 2019, had been Cricket Cranes Captain, leading the nation to heights that were hitherto, just dreamt about.
He was ably assisted by Brian Masaaba and the two in the squad gave the Cricket team a very bright future. Came July 2019, Captain Roger Mukasa and assistant Brian Masaaba were relieved of their duties. But again, Masaaba was named full team captain to date.
Thence, Mukasa played as a mere member of the squad role until Aug 2021 when he was finally dropped from the Cranes roasters. Mukasa’s dropping case became a very curious one as the player was at the time one of the best to have happened to the team. However, most sportsmen lug on longer than they should and face the embarrassment of being dropped from their teams.
True, it was unfair but trust Mukasa, he never looked back. He continued training and hoping for the day of his return to the team. That time has finally arrived and Roger Mukasa comes in for Deus Muhumuza, who failed to pass a late fitness test. This came as a result when he sustained an injury during the ICC Challenge League B tournament in Kampala.
Roger aggressive opening batting skills to the team and his experience will be what Cricket Cranes has always missed since the player was dropped. He carries his expertise, experience and batting skills to Zimbabwe at the eight Nations’ battle for a World Cup slot.
Muhumuza failed to make the final 14-man squad following an injury he picked during the ICC Challenge League B tournament that was held in Kampala last month. Well, his absence was chance for Mukasa but truth be told, the Veteran Cricketer’s return has seen largely a relief for the team whose batting prowess is evidently below par as seen during the ICC Challenge League B tournament.
Again, Mukasa’s current form is something you can’t avoid. For a team going to the ICC tournament, at least you need a Coach like none but Mukasa.
Uganda, currently with an opening batsmen pair problem hopes that Mukasa’s experience is the answer to give Simon Ssesaazi more confidence. The team will need at least three wins at the tournament in Zimbabwe. To progress so, Mukasa’s combination with Ssesaazi could work the fire for the team.
And according to coach Laurence Mathatlane, the squad is now a well-balanced one and is destined to deliver success to the nation. “Mukasa will bring experience and leadership to the side,” Mathatlane noted during the team’s announcement presser. Only two teams from the eight at the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier B tournament in Zimbabwe, have a chance to book their tickets to Australia for the marquee event later this year.
The 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier B is a cricket tournament that is scheduled to be played in July 2022 in Zimbabwe. This is one of the two global tournaments that together form the final stage of the qualification process for the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
In April 2018, the International Cricket Council (ICC) granted full international status to Twenty20 men’s matches played between member sides from 1st January 2019 onwards. Therefore, all the matches in the Global Qualifiers will be played as Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is)
Global Qualifier B will be contested by eight teams that advanced from their Regional Finals, that were eliminated in the first round of the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, or were one of the highest ranked sides not already qualified to this stage. The eight teams are placed in two groups, with two sides from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The two teams that reach the final of the Global Qualifier will advance to the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia.
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- Mr. Daniels N. Tatya is an affluent Sports Writer, Commentator and Editor. His over 15 years of covering almost major sporting events makes him a revered and an authority on investigative Sports journalism in Uganda. He can also be reached via [email protected] +256(0)758268315
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