Cricket Uganda has named an exciting, youthful and balanced Cricket Cranes squad for a build-up tour to Namibia scheduled for mid-March 16-26, as Uganda’s senior men’s team officially gets its 2026 international season underway.
The tour will see Uganda play five high-calibre matches – two Twenty20s against Namibia A and three 50-over matches, including two against the senior Namibian side, the Eagles, who have just represented the African continent at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and India.
The tour forms a key part of Uganda’s preparation for a demanding year that carries ambitions on two fronts:
Qualification contention for One Day International (ODI) status at the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League B in August in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Qualification for the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup through the Africa Sub-Regional Qualifiers in Nigeria in October.
Uganda head into the August Challenge League B leg unbeaten with 18 points, two clear of Italy, and will be targeting at least three victories to secure a top-two finish and progression to the next stage of the 2027 ODI World Cup qualification pathway.
Cricket Uganda Head of High Performance & Pathways Richard Okia, also a national selector, noted that the Namibia tour presents the right challenge at the right time.
“Namibia will be a good challenge for us. We are preparing for Challenge League B, where we are looking to push into the ODI frame, while also building towards the Africa Regional T20 World Cup qualifiers in Nigeria.
“The squad reflects our intention to widen the pool while maintaining players who have been consistent and in form,” he said.
Acting Cricket Cranes Head Coach Jackson Ogwang emphasised merit and discipline in the selection process.
“We have rewarded players who have worked hard, maintained discipline and allowed their numbers to speak for them. We also welcome back some senior players who have earned their way back, alongside consistent performers who remain the backbone of this team,” Ogwang said.
“For those who have missed out, the door is not closed. Continued performance will always be rewarded.”
The squad includes returning senior players Simon Ssesazi, Uganda’s leading T20I run-scorer, Kenneth Waiswa, who has added leadership and adaptability following a stint in the United Kingdom, and experienced pacer Bilal Hassun, whose mentorship will be key for Uganda’s young pace attack.
Senior debuts have been handed to Charles Musemeza, Anas Baig, and Gerald Olipa, rewarding consistent performances across domestic competitions, franchise cricket, and national trials.
Musemeza has quietly been one of the most consistent performers over the past two seasons, backing his batting returns with reliable wicket-keeping skills.
Baig has dominated Uganda’s domestic batting charts, finishing as the leading run-scorer in the league last season and maintaining that form in the recent Waterfalls Elite League and national trials.
He is the son of former Cricket Cranes captain Akbar Baig, continuing a strong family legacy at the national level.
Olipa, the captain of the Baby Cricket Cranes, arrives with a growing reputation after emerging as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Waterfalls Elite League, where he topped the run charts with 228 runs, including three half-centuries.
Olipa, widely regarded as one of Uganda’s brightest prospects, follows in the footsteps of his elder brother Rogers Olipa, who has previously represented both the U-19 and the senior national team.
Cricket Cranes Squad – Tour to Namibia
- Riazat Ali Shah (Captain)
- Robinson Obuya
- Simon Ssesazi
- Anas Mirza Mirza Baig
- Kenneth Waiswa
- Cyrus Kakuru
- Charles Musemeza
- Juma Miyaji
- Cosmas Kyewuta
- Bilal Hassun
- Henry Ssenyondo
- Joseph Baguma
- Mathew Musinguzi
- Gerald Olipa
Tour Itinerary
18th March: T20 vs Namibia A
19th March: T20 vs Namibia A
21st March: 50 Overs vs Namibia
23rd March: 50 Overs vs Namibia
25th March: 50 Overs vs Namibia A