Newly appointed Uganda Cricket coach Abhay Sharma has already expressed his delight after working with the Uganda Cricketers, and he is hopeful that the senior men’s national cricket team’s final camp in Sri Lanka will provide him with valuable insight into the side’s combination ahead of the World Cup.
Uganda team departed for Colombo today and will then proceed to the Coastal City of Galle – a 145 km journey – for a 15-day tour that extends until May 11th, serving as their ultimate training camp.
Coach Sharma has hit the ground running with three training sessions in his first week in Uganda, aiming to establish the right rhythm within the setup.
“Everyone has been welcoming, and I already feel like this is my second home,” remarked the 54-year-old Indian coach. “I am excited about the prospects during the Tour of Sri Lanka. It will afford me the opportunity to closely assess the team on an individual basis as well as the technical staff. For me, positions such as head coach are merely titles; we are all individuals striving for success of the team. We will rub off each other’s expertise.”
The former first-class cricketer continued; “My focus is on finding the optimal team combination and enhancing our fielding skills. With such a squad, I believe we have a competitive edge in that department and must capitalise on every opportunity. Fitness, skills for the shorter format, and game awareness are paramount on our agenda for this tour.”
Uganda team are scheduled for six Twenty20 matches, with three against Sri Lanka ‘A’, two against Sri Lanka Army, and one against Sri Lanka Police, to be held at three International Cricket Council (ICC) accredited grounds: Galle International Stadium, Army Ground in Panagoda, and the iconic R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
This tour will undoubtedly test the Ugandan outfit, challenging not only their skill set but also their mental fortitude. They are set to encounter several renowned Sri Lankan internationals, such as the experienced Thisara Perera, Seekuge Prassana, Asela Gunaratne, and Dinesh Chandimal in matches against Sri Lanka Army. In the encounter with Sri Lanka Police, the immensely talented quartet of Kusal Janith Perera, Nuwan Pradeep, Asela Bandara, and Chamara Silva are expected to feature in the one-off fixture at the R. Premadasa in Colombo.
