For the first time, the T20 World Cup will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA. The ICC aims to globalize cricket by including more nations in the 2024 event. Uganda is making its debut after defeating Zimbabwe in the qualifiers.
The T20 World Cup 2024 is set to begin this weekend in the USA and West Indies. This marks the third edition of the major event in the 2020s. Previously, the UAE and Oman co-hosted the tournament in 2021, and Australia hosted it in 2022.
Uganda is grouped with West Indies, New Zealand, Afghanistan, and Papua New Guinea in Group C. Although they aren’t expected to finish in the top 2, strong performances from key players could help them challenge higher-ranked teams in the T20 World Cup 2024.
Here are the five crucial Uganda players from this squad who could be pivotal at the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
#1 Bilal Hassan
Pakistan has a long history of producing outstanding fast bowlers, many of whom have represented the Men in Green at the international level. However, one notable exception is Punjab-born Bilal Hassan, who plays for Uganda instead.
Nicknamed Billy Blanks, Bilal has taken 65 wickets in 43 T20I innings for Uganda. As a right-arm fast bowler, he opens the bowling for his team. Remarkably, Bilal is second on the all-time list for most T20I wickets by bowling out batters, having achieved this 44 times. Only Rashid Khan, with 45 such dismissals, surpasses him.
#2 Cosmas Kyewuta
Cosmas Kyewuta, born on December 28, 2001, stands out as one of the youngest players participating in this year’s T20 World Cup. He showcases his talent as a right-arm pace bowler, drawing inspiration from his cricketing idol, Dale Steyn.
Cosmas has secured 27 wickets in 23 T20Is, demonstrating his prowess on the field. His standout performance includes impressive bowling figures of 4/5, showcasing his ability to make scoring challenging for opposing batters once he finds his rhythm.
#3 Juma Miyaji
Also making the list is Juma Miyaji, another fast bowler. His cricketing inspiration is Jofra Archer, who will represent England in the T20 World Cup 2024. Within the Uganda squad, Miyaji is affectionately referred to as Junior Gaga, while some dub him Nago Express due to his rapid pace.
Juma, born in 2003, has made a mark by capturing 34 wickets in just 20 T20I innings while representing his country. His standout bowling performance came with figures of 3/7. As a right-arm pacer, he has maintained an impressive economy rate of less than six runs per over, showcasing his ability to control the game and keep the opposition batters under pressure.
#4 Roger Mukasa
Roger Mukasa, who wears jersey number 37 for Uganda, serves as a top-order wicketkeeper-batter. His cricketing hero since childhood has been the Australian legend Adam Gilchrist. With a significant amount of experience accumulated over the years, Roger brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to the team.
Throughout his T20 career, he has accumulated 1,675 runs from 87 innings, maintaining an average of 20.42 and a strike rate just under 115. As a 34-year-old, Uganda anticipates him to showcase his expertise in the forthcoming matches.
#5 Simon Ssesazi
Another wicketkeeper-batter in Uganda’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad is Simon Ssesazi. Similar to his idol Chris Gayle, he is a left-handed batsman. Ssesazi wears jersey number 24, and his ultimate aspiration is to visit Toronto, Canada.
At 27 years old, he has amassed over 2,000 runs across 76 T20I innings, marking one century and maintaining an average of over 30. His performance will be pivotal to Uganda’s prospects in the T20 World Cup 2024, as his contributions with the bat will significantly impact the team’s success in the tournament.
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