Uganda skipper Brian Masaba ecstatic on historic T20 World Cup qualification: Culmination of sweat, blood, tears

Skipper Brian Masaba was over the moon after Uganda qualified for the T20 World Cup 2024 to be held next year in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA).

After Namibia made their way through to the mega event earlier, Uganda joined them as the second team, leaving behind Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Uganda officially qualified after beating Rwanda by nine wickets on Thursday in Match No.20 of the T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifier.

“We’re still trying to process all the emotions. It’s been a long process, a long journey. This is the culmination of a lot of sweat, blood and tears. As a team it was a very, very special moment for us,” Masaba was quoted as saying to BBC World Service’s Sportsworld.

Masaba said that the win against Zimbabwe was crucial in Uganda finishing in the top two. Uganda won the match by five wickets at the United Cricket Club Ground in Windhoek.

Riazat Ali Shah became the Player of the Match after he played a quick-fire knock of 42 off 28 balls with the help of five fours and one six.

The 32-year-old Masaba said that Uganda qualifying for the T20 World Cup was one of their ‘wildest dreams’ come true.

“Once we beat Zimbabwe, we knew our fate was in our own hands and the boys stood up. This is a big boy, the World Cup! And to be on this platform is something that only happened in our wildest dreams and for us to finally get there is a dream come true for a lot of the guys,” he added.