Redemption time: Kenya, Uganda seek to post impressive results in UAE

By Colin Macbeth

 

Kenya and Uganda cricket squads will be out to prove themselves when they line up with 14 other nations at the start of the T20 World Cup global qualifiers in the United Arab Emirates tomorrow.

They will also be out to prove that East African cricket, far from being stuck in the doldrums, has something positive to show for itself.

With Kenya still emerging from a dark hole of its own creation, the onus lies with Uganda, touted as a team of the future, to lead the way in a private battle to see which team emerges as the fourth best in Africa — after South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Kenya’s Alex Obanda during a past event. [Photo:cricinfo]

Some time back, Kenya would regularly have walloped present Test-playing nations like Bangladesh; but those days are gone.

Uganda, though, recorded a memorable five-wicket T20 victory over Namibia in Kampala in 2011, and the south west Africans will be the lakesiders’ ultimate opponents in Abu Dhabi on November 24.

Uganda’s warm-up games will be against Papua New Guinea (PNG) - who  beat them by one run in Dubai the last time they met in Abu Dhabi, and against a powerful Afghanistan on what amounts almost to the Afghans’ home turf in Sharjah two days later.

COMPETITION PROPER

The competition proper starts with Kenya facing PNG in Dubai and Uganda playing the hosts UAE in Abu Dhabi, both games on Friday.

Kenya will face Nepal, Denmark, Scotland, Bermuda, and Netherlands in Dubai, then the Afghans in Sharjah; while Uganda’s opponents are Hong Kong, Italy, Canada, USA, Ireland and their old ‘nemesis’, Namibia.

Both Uganda and Kenya are hoping they will show sufficient skill and fitness to finish among the six sides to go through to join the ‘big boys’ in the T20 World Cup finals in Bangladesh next year.

Meanwhile, New Zealand beckons both East African nations for the World Cup 50/50 qualifiers at the beginning of next year.

Elsewhere, Rob Quiney outperformed his opening partner and Test batsman Chris Rogers on a rain-affected opening day in Hobart, where Victoria reached 3 for 119 at stumps. Quiney was unbeaten on 57 at the close of play, with the nightwatchman Scott Boland yet to score, after Tasmania’s captain George Bailey asked the Bushrangers to bat in challenging conditions.

Rogers was caught at gully off the bowling of Adam Maher for 3 before Quiney and Peter Handscomb put on 54 for the second wicket, a useful stand under the circumstances. Handscomb was bowled by James Faulkner for 19 and Cameron White made 33 before he was caught behind off the part-time medium-pace of Mark Cosgrove.