Harare – September 19. The Uganda Cricket Cranes touched down safely in Harare yesterday evening, setting the stage for their campaign in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier (Finals), scheduled from September 26 to October 5.
The team made a short 90-minute flight from their high-intensity training base at the High Performance Center (HPC), University of Pretoria, South Africa, where they capped a productive week with two wins out of three games against leading South African franchises Lions and Titans.
Upon arrival at their accommodation at the scenic Cresta Lodge, the squad wasted no time getting into rhythm. Coaches and physiotherapists ensured the players shook off travel fatigue with an evening gym session before settling down for rest.
Today, the team had their first feel of the Harare Sports Club (HSC) – the venue of their highly anticipated opening fixture against hosts Zimbabwe. The players engaged in a lengthy fielding session focusing on catching, direct hits, and throw-down drills, designed to sharpen their reflexes and adaptability to local conditions.
The day concluded with a mandatory ICC Anti-Corruption Education Session organised by Tournament Director Martin Ondeko, who is also coincidentally Cricket Uganda’s former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and facilitated by ICC’s Anti-Corruption Officer Dorian Clarence. Players were reminded of the importance of the three Rs – Recognise, Reject & Report – while also receiving guidance on acceptable interactions, gifts, and the monetary thresholds to maintain professionalism and integrity.
Head Coach Abhay Sharma praised the team’s momentum and discipline:
“We had a very good preparation tour in South Africa. Winning two out of three matches was encouraging, and even in the last game, our batting unit got a good workout despite not clicking under tough conditions. Arriving in Harare a few days early was deliberate, to acclimatize to the conditions and temperatures. Today’s long fielding session covered all key aspects, and the boys really enjoyed it. The anti-corruption session was equally vital—these are tournaments where wrong elements try to penetrate, so it was very educative and timely.”
Wicketkeeper Cyrus Kakuru echoed the coach’s sentiments on both preparation and discipline:
“The South African tour was eye-opening and showed us areas we must keep improving. Today’s session in Harare was important to start adapting to local conditions. The anti-corruption session reminded us that as players, we are often targeted with many promises. It taught us to respect the game and ensure we leave it in a better place than we found it.”
With the groundwork now laid, the Cricket Cranes will continue fine-tuning ahead of their opener at Harare Sports Club, where they aim to make a strong statement in their quest for a back-to-back T20 World Cup berth.