Uganda’s national men’s cricket team, the Cricket Cranes, have departed for Windhoek for a five-match bilateral tour against Namibia, marking the start of a new era under newly appointed head coach Steve Tikolo.
The team left Entebbe International Airport shortly after midnight on Monday for the ten-day tour, scheduled from March 16 to March 26.
Uganda will begin with two Twenty20 matches against Namibia A before switching to the longer format with three 50-over contests—two against Namibia’s senior side, the Eagles, and one against Namibia A.
This tour is Tikolo’s first assignment since signing a three-year contract on March 13. The East African cricket legend and former Kenya captain returns for his third stint with Uganda, having previously served as batting coach (2012–2013) and head coach (2016–2019). His wealth of experience includes 135 One Day Internationals in a distinguished international career.
Cricket Uganda views the series as a crucial step in shaping a competitive squad ahead of a demanding 2026 calendar.
Two major targets lie ahead. In August, Uganda will compete for One Day International status during the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League B leg in Dar es Salaam. The Cranes currently lead the table with 18 points, two ahead of Italy, and need at least three wins to secure a top-two finish and progress in the qualification pathway for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Later in October, attention will shift to the Africa Sub Regional Qualifiers in Nigeria, where Uganda hopes to advance in the qualification process for the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Captain Riazat Ali Shah leads a 14-man squad blending seasoned campaigners with emerging talent. Key returnees include Simon Ssesazi, Uganda’s leading T20 International run scorer, all-rounder Kenneth Waiswa, and pace bowler Bilal Hassun. Waiswa brings leadership after a stint in UK club cricket, while Hassun adds experience to guide a youthful pace attack.
Three players earn their first senior call-ups following standout domestic performances: Charles Musemeza, Anas Baig, and Gerald Olipa, the latter rising quickly after an impressive campaign in the Waterfalls Elite League.
Uganda will open the tour with back-to-back T20 matches against Namibia A on March 18 and 19, followed by two 50-over contests against Namibia on March 21 and 23. The series concludes with a final one-day match against Namibia A on March 25.
