When the Victoria Pearls bowl off their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifiers campaign on 25th April in the United Arab Emirates, they will be under the leadership of a different player.
This development comes after Uganda Cricket Association announced the changes in the team’s captaincy. Effective 4th April, Janet Mbabazi will be the team’s skipper and will lead the side in Abu Dhabi.
Mbabazi who has served in the vice captaincy role since 2017 replaces Consy Aweko who will be proud of what she achieved as the captain.
During her reign that commenced in 2022, the 32-year-old won four trophies that included the Nepal Series, Capricorn Eagles Quadrangular, Kenya Invitational and the Victoria Series, but most importantly, she led the Victoria Pearls to only their second appearance at the global qualifiers.
Aweko has been one to lead by example. It should be remembered that in 2022, the spinner topped the charts in bowling in Women’s T20Is with 40 wickets, and ended 2023 as the player with the second most wickets (35).
She has been at the forefront both with her leadership and performance, but will now follow the proceedings as a regular player.
Aweko will be led by her former vice Mbabazi, and the second in command duties have been handed to Rita Musamali who heads to UAE as the vice captain.
While announcing the incoming captain, UCA also named it’s final 15 for the global qualifiers, and the list excludes fast bowler Irene Alumo.
Alumo was ommitted from the team that travelled to India for a training camp in February and to Ghana for the African Games last month. She will have to wait a little longer to make a return to the national team.
Patricia Malemekia, her fellow pacer misses out too, but opening batter Proscovia Alako makes a return. Like the aforementioned duo, Alako missed trips to India and Ghana.
Teenagers Lorna Anyait and Malisa Ariokot maintain their places in the team, however, Immaculate Nandera who made her national team debut in India has been left out.
Uganda will be placed in Group A alongside Scotland, Thailand, USA and Sri Lanka. They will be hoping to be among the top two sides at this Qualifiers as they seek to qualify for the World Cup for the first time ever.
Before the real action, the Victoria Pearls who set off for Abu Dhabi on 19th April will play two warm up games against Vanuatu and UAE before their opening group game against Scotland on 25th.
The World Cup Global Qualifiers Squad in Full:
Janet Mbabazi (Captain), Rita Musamali (vice Captain), Consy Aweko, Kevin
Awino, Stephanie Nampiina, Immaculate Nakisuyi, Evelyn Anyipo, Sarah Akiteng, Phionah Khulume, Proscovia Alako, Gloria Obukor, Esther Iloku, Lorna Anyait, Malissa Ariokot, Sarah Walaza.
