Tanzania to face Italy in International Cricket Challenge League opener slated for Uganda in November
By Miguel Suleyman
Tanzania will open its World Cup Challenge League campaign by locking horns with Italy at the Entebbe Cricket Oval in Uganda on November 6th this year, Tanzania Cricket Association has revealed.
Uganda will host the first round of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Challenge League B tournament scheduled to start from November 4th to 16th this year.
The tournament, organized by the Uganda Cricket Association, will take place at the Lugogo Cricket Oval and Entebbe Cricket Oval, bringing together six teams—Uganda, Tanzania, Bahrain, Singapore, Italy, and Hong Kong China.
“This competition is a key event on the pathway to the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, and the Tanzanian team has been training intensively to ensure we qualify for the World Cup finals,” Ateef Salim, the Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) official spokesman said in Dar es Salaam.
According to the TCA official, the tournament is a crucial part of the qualification process for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, set to take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
“Our players have been training seriously since we know we are going to face tougher opponents there,” said Salim adding the just ended Twenty 20 World Cup qualifying tournament in Dar es Salaam also played a part in drilling players for the Ugandan mission.
The hosts Uganda will play their opener against Singapore on November 6th, 2024, before facing Tanzania, Hong Kong, Italy, and Bahrain.
Tanzania will play their third match against Bahrain at the same venue in subsequent days.
According to TCA, Tanzanian players are expected to leave for Entebbe on the fourth day of November this year.
As revealed by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the groups for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Challenge League, featuring twelve teams split into Challenge League A and Challenge League B.
The competition will run from 2024 to 2026, with winners and runners-up from each group advancing to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier Playoff.
Challenge League A includes Denmark, Jersey, Kenya, Kuwait, Papua New Guinea, and Qatar, while Challenge League B comprises Bahrain, Hong Kong China, Italy, Singapore, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The Challenge League serves as a crucial pathway for emerging nations to qualify for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.