NEW DELHI: Uganda's maiden appearance at the ICC Men's
T20 World Cup
ended in a 125-run defeat to Afghanistan, but the day was marked by the emotional significance of the African nation's debut on cricket's biggest stage.
Captain
Brian Masaba
, visibly moved during the pre-match national anthem, later reflected on the momentous occasion. "Special moment to hear our national anthem and see our flag at the World Cup," he shared.
"It's a moment that I will cherish for the rest of my life."
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Afghanistan, considered one of the dark horses in the tournament, showcased their dominance throughout the match. After Uganda won the toss and elected to field, Afghan openers
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
(76) and
Ibrahim Zadran
(70) combined for a commanding 154-run partnership, setting a formidable platform for their team. Afghanistan ultimately posted a challenging total of 183/5.
Uganda's batting lineup struggled to match the firepower of their opponents.
Fazalhaq Farooqi
, the Afghan pace bowler, ripped through the Ugandan order, claiming his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 internationals. Uganda were eventually bowled out for 58 runs, handing Afghanistan a comprehensive victory.
Despite the loss, Masaba defended his decision to bowl first, saying, "No, not at all in the context of the game I thought it was a good decision. They are a side that loves chasing, we've seen that from history, and we backed ourselves to go out there and bowl well and try and restrict them. Unfortunately, our execution wasn't that great and they got off to a flyer, but we pulled the game back in the second half of our bowling innings. And I look back at that decision and I don't think it was a bad decision."
Looking ahead, Masaba emphasized the importance of learning from the experience and bouncing back in their upcoming match against Papua New Guinea. "Credit to [Afghanistan] for playing well. One of the top bowling sides. Good seamers and quality spinners. We will look to bounce back better against PNG," he stated.
Uganda's journey in the T20 World Cup may have begun with a defeat, but their presence at the tournament marks a significant milestone for cricket in the nation.
The emotional resonance of their debut, coupled with their captain's determination to learn and improve, suggests that Uganda will be aiming to leave a lasting mark on the tournament.
(Inputs from ANI)
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