Uganda name former India first-class cricketer Abhay Sharma as head coach ahead of 2024 T20 World Cup

The Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) on Tuesday (April 23) named former India first-class cricketer Abhay Sharma as the new head coach of the men’s national team. The development comes ahead of Uganda’s maiden appearance in the Twenty20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in the West Indies and the USA from June 1, 2024. 

Uganda defeated Rwanda in the last round of matches in the Africa leg of the World Cup qualifiers. Namibia is the other team to have qualified for the International Cricket Council (ICC) event from the African qualifiers. They will compete with 18 other teams in the month-long global tournament. 

Abhay Sharma was appointed by UCA on a three-year contract, hoping to take Uganda to greater heights with his extensive coaching skills. In a statement on its website, the Board said Sharma has the "wealth of knowledge and expertise to lead the Cricket Cranes into their next chapter of success."

Uganda aim decent debut under Abhay Sharma’s guidance

Having played for Delhi, Railways and Rajasthan, Sharma has previous coaching stints with India A, India Under-19s, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh Ranji Trophy teams. He was also selected as the fielding coach of the Indian Women's National Cricket Team in 2021. 

Talking about his playing career, the right-handed wicket-keeper batter has played in 89 first-class matches and 40 List-A matches. He was part of the Delhi team that won the Ranji Trophy in 1988-89 and captained Railways when they won the Ranji Trophy in 2001-02.

“I am here to contribute to the team’s aspirations, which include defeating the top sides in the world in the upcoming World Cup,” the 54-year-old Sharma said in the statement.

“While Uganda Cricket has performed well in the last 12 months, there are areas, particularly fielding, where we need to improve,” he added.

With Sharma at the helm, Uganda will be hoping to put up a decent showing in their maiden World Cup campaign. Uganda are placed in Group C alongside Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, West Indies and New Zealand. Their first match is against Asian side Afghanistan on June 3 at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.