At the T20 World Cup, Uganda’s 15-man team promises to have supporters up and watching, eager to showcase their cricket to billions of people.
“We have been dreaming of this for our entire lives. To be here,” acknowledges Frank Nsubuga.
“And yes, I’m 43, but my dream came true, and I’m very happy for that.”
Nsubuga’s name has most likely been inscribed in African cricket scorebooks more than any other. The off-spinning all-rounder has gained a cult following in developing cricket circles for his exploits in regional competitions and pathway events. Dubbed the “old man about town” following a remarkable catch in 2022, he is still going strong in his career and has no intention of slowing down for the T20 World Cup.
Nsubuga’s 27-year international career alone predates the Ugandan national team by more than six members of the squad. Similar to the modern West Indies, his first international appearances were for East Africa, a composite team made up of Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
The Ugandan fraternity has forgotten the days of Nsubuga cricket. Frank, on the other hand, recalls a time before Twenty20 cricket.
The Lugogo man has seen a lot, but only now, after a lifetime of hard work, is he able to see and experience a World Cup as a player—one in the most recent version.
“This (national) insignia that is on my shirt in front of me makes me very proud.
“I am eager to set foot on that field. I can’t wait to compete in this World Cup.”
Setting an example of diligence, Nsubuga gets up early to run and then works out with captain Brian Masaba, hitting the weights before some of his teammates show up for work.
Riazat Ali Shah frequently joins them at the gym, and their shared enjoyment of working out together helps the three of them get ready for the demands of a T20 World Cup. Born in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Balistan, Riazat was born a year after Nsubuga made his debut on the international scene. The all-rounder thrived in junior cricket in an area of the nation not known for producing talent, teaming up with Aamer Jamal, a future Pakistan Test fast, prior to moving to Uganda as a result of invitational events and a chance meeting with Kenyan icon Steve Tikolo, a Ugandan coach.
A nation on the rise uses the phrase “happy hustle” as a communal mantra, and the work and sacrifice point to this belief.
The video of Uganda’s squad announcement included a man going about his normal business and receiving cards with the squad selections at each checkpoint. He wraps up his day by learning about the complete team, having finished a session, giving money to family in various areas of the nation, and savoring a “Rolex” chapati, a play on rolled eggs. He celebrates with a refreshing beverage.
Mumbai-based cricket fans might not have known about star all-rounder Alpesh Ramjani if it weren’t for his bravery during the Covid pandemic. He is a living example of perseverance and sacrifice.
Ramjani, who claimed 55 wickets in just 103.3 overs, more than any other player in the format, was nominated for the ICC Men’s T20I Player of the Year for 2023 and included in the Team of the Year.
Ramjani was formerly a teammate of Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, and Suryakumar Yadav in India. His life was completely flipped upside down when he lost his job, which was made worse by the fact that his father’s construction company was losing a lot of money.
Before making a change in his life, Ramjani contacted his friend and potential international teammate, Dinesh Nakrani, who was a good all-round player.
“You have to make difficult choices if you want to succeed in life.
There’s a proverb that states that everything that occurs has a purpose. And in a way, this was a disguised godsend.”
Ramjani produced excellent results in all three areas of domestic cricket, which eventually made him a lock for selection for the national team.
“Moving was a courageous choice. However, it’s the right choice because, in India, cricket players dedicate their entire lives to representing their state.
“But when you get the opportunity to represent 48 million people wearing the country’s flag, that is the highest pride that any player can have in his life.”
By the time regional qualification rolled around, Ramjani’s name was already well established for Uganda, having taken 3/26 (4) in an opening-day victory over a developing Tanzanian team. Against Namibia, the left-arm orthodox spinner got 3/13 (4), but the loss meant they would probably need four consecutive victories to stay in the hunt.
Ramjani and the Ugandan team calmed tensions by applying pressure to their more favored opponents as they faced the formidable Zimbabwe.
After Nakrani grabbed three wickets and Henry Ssenyondo, Ramjani’s partner who bowls left-arm orthodoxy, claimed two wickets, Riazat took the vital wicket of Sikanda Raza with eight balls remaining in the innings to restrict the Zimbabweans to 136/7.
With Ramjani scoring 40(26) and Riazat scoring 42(28), Uganda emerged victorious. Riazat was dismissed in the last over, but Kenneth Waiswa, a former youth international who is now a staple of the senior team, remained composed and found a corner of the ground to hit the winning run.
The team performed well against Zimbabwe when given freedom and had virtually nothing to lose, but Ramjani acknowledges that the team struggled even as one of the favorites nearing qualifying.
“After defeating Zimbabwe, we were second in the group and guaranteed a qualifying berth, so now it was all to lose.
“A few of the players had sleepless nights because when things are going your way you don’t want things to end up going against you.”
With attacker Ronak Patel’s blistering sixty-two to calm any fears, the Cranes handled a Nigerian challenge to maintain their winning streak. Next came older brothers Kenya, though after years of growing, ready for a final fight, the men in yellow and red prevailed. This time, Bilal Hassan took charge and easily won by 39 runs, taking four wickets.
“Kenya has always stopped us from qualifying or moving to the next level,” Ramjani said.
“Beating Kenya was very important for us and once we knew that we could beat Kenya … that’s when we realized that we are not too far to knock the gate down.”
The Cranes persevered, and the only thing that could have deviated them from their path to the T20 World Cup was Rwanda’s banana peel on the last day. With more T20I sixes than Mitch Marsh, Hazratullah Zazai, and AB de Villiers combined, Simon Ssesazi earned the privilege of striking the game-winning run in a victory that sealed qualifying by playing a role akin to that of Ronak’s innings two games earlier.
“I recall that evening (before to the Rwanda match), the entire team and I didn’t sleep well at all. We talked in our rooms until four in the morning. We were eager to play Rwanda in order to guarantee our spot in the World Cup,” Nsubuga says.
Even after qualifying, we found it hard to accept. The team is all fired up to play in this World Cup after a dream came true.
“I was the happiest man (in the world) seeing myself playing for the last 27 years, and the team qualifying because I’ve been trying, I’ve been trying my whole life.”
“They and me want to leave a mark in this World Cup, this being our first time being out.”
Nsubuga and his brother Roger Mukasa will continue to share aspirations and memories, which will make the qualification even more sweeter. From being kids in Lugogo and learning the game from their father, at the cricket club of which their mother also helped run, decades of training, hard work and perseverance have led to this moment. Fittingly, the two participated in Uganda’s 2009 World Cricket League Division Three victory over Afghanistan, the team’s first-round opponents in the Twenty20 World Cup. On that day, Mohammad Nabi fell for a duck.
The pair have gushed over West Indies heroes of yesteryear, only to front up to a tournament now as equals. Nsubuga even bestowed “Pollard” as one of his children’s middle names, paying homage to legend Kieron. Frank, who himself was named after Italian football legend Franco Baresi, could become someone else’s hero to someone watching on.
“It is a life-changing opportunity for every one of us.
“Representing your country, your nation at the highest level, that is a dream for every cricketer.”
Of course, it’d be remiss not to acknowledge Frank as an immense role-model every day for the younger generation beginning their journey as Cricket Cranes.
There aren’t many places where one would be told to trade a football or a basketball for a Kookaburra Turf, though for the likes of Juma Miyagi, Cosmas Kyewuta and Fred Achelam, there is a more prosperous life in cricket, between central contracts, government funding and local sponsorships.
Miyagi, who put on a show with 13 wickets at the 2022 U19 Cricket World Cup, also in the West Indies, is ready to beat some of the best with the new ball and with hero Nsubuga now next to him as a teammate.
“Frank inspired me a lot. His feet are everywhere in the field. He keeps himself fit. He’s been encouraging us since we were young.
“Kane Williamson (is one wicket) I want to take. Rovman Powell and Nicholas Pooran too.
“I don’t and I won’t get tired.
“I come in quick and I break people’s bones.
“The conditions are almost the same here to Uganda, there aren’t any difficulties.”
Juma earmarks Riazat and Robinson Obuya as players to watch at the tournament, the latter in his early 20s and perservering after missing on U19 selection in years gone past.
As for tournament aspirations in the West Indies, Ramjani sums things up best.
“This Ugandan team is known to fight back irrespective of whatever happens.
“So we are here to leave a mark and make sure that, you know, we will keep you off your seats whenever you’re watching us.”
“We are not just representing (ourselves). We are representing 48 million people back in Uganda. As you know, in the history of Uganda, this is the first time that our team has qualified for the World Cup.
“It’s the time for us to showcase our talent and we need the support from all the people around to, you know, showcase our talent and showcase our potential that, yes, we also can represent Uganda at the highest level because we deserve it.”
Uganda begin their campaign against Afghanistan, and feature in Group C with Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and hosts West Indies.
