Kwebiiha back as Ndiko is dropped

Junior Kwebiiha is back on the national team that takes on Namibia in a three-day ICC Intercontinental tie at Lugogo from Friday. Namibia arrives today.

Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) named the final squad to play Namibia yesterday with opener Michael Ndiko dropped and replaced by Kwebiiha.

Kwebiiha missed out against Kenya two weeks ago with a shoulder injury sustained during a trial match. The all-rounder was instrumental in the tie against Namibia last year where Uganda won by six wickets. He notched an unbeaten 25 runs and picked two vital wickets in the final innings.

"There has been noticeable improvement especially among the batsmen. I hope and pray that the form displayed in the trial matches would be transformed into the big game," selection committee chairman Robert Kisubi said.

Wicketkeeper Lawrence Sematimba is expected to go up the batting order after his show of maturity against Kenya last month. He is expected to open the batting with Benjamin Musoke while Kwebiiha, Nehal Bibodi and Joel Olweny will anchor the top order.

Meanwhile, ICC regional manager for Africa Hoosain Ayob and UK-based ICC high performance manager Richard Done arrive in the country today ahead of the tie.

The squad N. Bibodi, B. Musoke, J. Olweny, B. Akbar, N. Kishore, J. Kwebiiha, L. Sematimba, K. Kamyuka, F. Nsubuga, E. Issaneez, C. Waiswa, R. Otim, Henry Okecho (coach), Richard Mwami (manager).