Uganda must come good on Italian job

Uganda’s opener Roger Mukasa gets dismissed by Hong Kong on Saturday. Photo by Getty images/ICC  

By Innocent Ndawula

Abu Dhabi- The mood in the Ugandan camp here at the Yas Island Rontana Hotel in Abu Dhabi remains good despite the opening two defeats.
The team is aiming to get ‘out of jail’ with their first International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 Qualifiers win when they meet Italy at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium Oval today. “It cannot get any worse,” said Brian Masaba, a man touted as the next Ugandan skipper, opting for a philosophical analysis.

“When you hit rock bottom, you can only go up. We know we are one win away from getting our groove back and we plan to hit the road running once again. We have to do the Italian Job.”

The former U-19 skipper also pleaded to the Ugandan fans back home to remain calm in the face of adversity. “We know how they (fans) feel,” added the 22-year-old. “No one knows more than us that we have to deliver. The batsmen have to come to the party. Our fielding and bowling is okay but the batsmen have to get into the runs. And they know it.”

But Italy, fourth in Group A with two points in as many matches, will be confident of toppling point-less Uganda.In the only T20 the two countries have played, Italy toppled Uganda by 13 runs in Dubai last year.

Ugandan skipper Davis Karashani and his troops got their revenge earlier this year in May when they bowled out the Italians 91 enroute to a sweet 23-run win during the ICC Division III World Cricket League in Bermuda.

After defeats to hosts UAE and Hong Kong, Uganda’s coach Johan Rudolph knows he has his hands full as he seeks a winning formula and a plot to keep Italian big hitters Gareth Berg, Andy Northcote, Carl Sandri and Peter Petricola quiet as well as deny bowler Gayashan Munasinghe early wickets.


Sunday results

Bermuda 144/8 Netherlands 145/2
Namibia 163/4 USA 128/8
Ireland 138/5 UAE 133/10

PLAYING TODAY
Italy vs. Uganda (10am, Sheikh Zayed Stadium – Abu Dhabi)
Denmark vs. Kenya (10am, ICC Academy Oval I – Dubai)
Canada vs. Hong Kong (2pm, Abu Dhabi Nursery Oval I)
Nepal vs. Scotland (2pm, ICC Academy Oval 2 – Dubai)

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

ICC World T20 Qualifier, UAE - March 2012
Italy 131/7 Uganda 118/10
Italy won by 13 runs
ICC World Cricket League Div III, Bermuda – May 2013
Uganda 114/9 Italy 91/10
Uganda won by 23 runs