Introducing Uganda: Meet the Cricket Cranes ready to soar at T20 World Cup 2024

By Daniel Beswick

"This is the thing we have been dreaming about our whole lives. To be here," Frank Nsubuga admits.

"And yes, I'm 43, but my dream came true, and I'm very happy for that."

In scorebooks of African cricket, Nsubuga's name has been written probably more than any other. In regional competitions and pathway events, the off-spinning all-rounder has developed a cult following in emerging cricket circles, and the "old man about town", as he was described after a superhuman catch in 2022, is showing no sign of stopping on his career stride of pride at the T20 World Cup.

Nsubuga's 27-year international career alone is older than six of his fellow Ugandan squad members, and it even outlives the Ugandan national team. His first international appearances came for East Africa, a composite side for Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia, in a similar vein to what the West Indies is today.

Those in the Ugandan fraternity forget what cricket was like before Nsubuga. By contrast Frank can remember a life before T20 cricket.

The man from Lugogo has seen many things, but only now, after a lifetime of toil, can he see and feel a World Cup, one in the newest format, as a player.

"I'm so proud of this (national) badge in front of me on my shirt.

"I cannot wait to step on that field. I'm so excited to go and play in this World Cup."

Nsubuga sets the example of hard work, waking up early in the morning and completing a run, followed by a weights session with captain Brian Masaba even before some of his teammates arrive for work.

Often joining them at the gym is Riazat Ali Shah, and the mutual love of throwing iron around, tuning themselves up for the rigours of a T20 World Cup, bonds the trio. Born a year after Nsubuga's international debut, Riazat hails from the Gilgit-Balistan region of Pakistan. A part of the country not renowned for producing talent, the all-rounder flourished in junior cricket (alongside a future Pakistan Test quick in Aamer Jamal), before invitational tournaments and a crossing of paths with Ugandan coach and Kenyan legend Steve Tikolo sparked a move to Uganda.

The work and sacrifice points to the idea of the "happy hustle" - a collective mantra used by a country on the move on the up.

Uganda's squad announcement video played on the daily routine of the nation's cricketers, with a man running his errands, handed cards with squad selections at every checkpoint. From enjoying a "Rolex" chapati (a play on rolled eggs), to sending money to family in other parts of the country and finishing a session, he finishes his day learning of the entire squad, celebrating with a cold refreshment.

Star all-rounder Alpesh Ramjani is a testament to the hard work and sacrifice, and had it not been for leaps of faith during the Covid pandemic, cricket fans outside of Mumbai may have never heard his name.

Nominated for the ICC Men's T20I Player of the Year for 2023 and selected in the Team of the Year, Ramjani took more wickets than anyone else in the format, 55 in just 103.3 overs.

Once a teammate of Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube and Suryakumar Yadav in India, Ramjani's life was turned upside-down when he lost his job, compounded further by his father's construction business haemorrhaging money.

Ramjani reached out to friend and future international teammate Dinesh Nakrani, a fine all-rounder himself, before shifting his life.

"When you need to excel in life, you need to take hard decisions.

"It's a saying that whatever happens, it happens for good. And this was something like a blessing in disguise."

Ramjani excelled in domestic cricket, delivering in all three facets, ultimately making himself a shoo-in for international selection.

"It was a brave decision (to move). But it's the best decision because as a cricketer people spend their life to just represent their state back in India.

"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."

Ramjani had already developed a reputation as a key player for Uganda by the time regional qualification came round, taking 3/26 (4) in an opening day win over a growing Tanzania side. The left-arm orthodox spinner took 3/13 (4) against Namibia, though defeat meant they would likely need four wins on the bounce to remain alive.

Facing giants Zimbabwe, Ramjani and the Ugandan group deflected nerves by turning the pressure back on their more-fancied opponents.

As Nakrani claimed three wickets and Ramjani's fellow left-arm orthodox-bowling teammate Henry Ssenyondo picked up a pair of his own, Riazat claimed the crucial wicket of Sikanda Raza with eight balls left in the innings to hold the Zimbabweans to 136/7.

Riazat's 42 (28) and Ramjani's 40 (26) sent Uganda on their way to a shock victory, and despite the loss of Riazat in the final over, a calm Kenneth Waiswa, a youth international product turned senior team mainstay, found a pocket of the ground to score the winning run.

The side flourished when freed up and almost with nothing to lose against Zimbabwe, though Ramjani admits the side struggled as one of the front runners on the cusp of qualification.

"It was now everything to lose after beating Zimbabwe because we were second in the group after beating them (and in a qualifying spot).

"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."

The Cranes accounted for a Nigerian challenge to stay on the winning trail, as aggressor Ronak Patel's quickfire 60 quashed any nerves. 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 stepped up, claiming a four-wicket haul in a comfortable 39-run win.

"Kenya has always stopped us from qualifying or moving to the next level," Ramjani continued.

"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."

Only the banana skin match of Rwanda on the final day could steer them off course on the road to the T20 World Cup, though the Cranes powered on. Simon Ssesazi, who boasts more T20I sixes than Mitch Marsh, Hazratullah Zazai and AB de Villiers, played a similar role to Ronak's innings two matches prior, and earned the right of hitting the winning run in a qualification-sealing win.

"I remember that night (before the Rwanda game), the whole team, we didn't sleep with such dreams, in our rooms chatting until four in the morning. We couldn't wait to go play Rwanda to seal ourself for the World Cup," Nsubuga continues.

"Even after qualifying we couldn't believe it. A dream came true and the whole team is now very excited to play in this World Cup.

"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."

To make the qualification even sweeter, Nsubuga will continue to share memories and dreams with his brother Roger Mukasa. 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. Rather fittingly, the pair played in Uganda's 2009 World Cricket League Division Three victory over first up T20 World Cup opponents Afghanistan. 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.