(Credit X)
On Monday, during Uganda’s match against Afghanistan in Guyana, Frank Nsubuga etched his name in the annals of cricket history. At 43 years old, he became the oldest player in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Nsubuga’s cricket journey began in 1997 when he debuted as a teenager in an ICC Zone 6 tournament. Remarkably, he represented East and Central Africa in the 1997 ICC Trophy at just 16 years old. His T20I debut came on May 20, 2019, against Botswana. Over the years, Nsubuga has played 54 T20Is, claiming 55 wickets with an economy rate of 4.79.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) also highlighted Nsubuga’s remarkable career on X (formerly Twitter). Their post emphasized that Nsubuga’s 27-year international tenure surpasses the age of six of his Ugandan #T20WorldCup teammates combined. Despite his longevity in the sport, Nsubuga remains determined, asserting that the Cricket Cranes’ presence in the World Cup isn’t merely for leisure.
Fans were quick to express their admiration for Frank Nsubuga’s remarkable feat, flooding social media with their heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for the Ugandan cricketer.
“This is the thing we have been dreaming about our whole lives. To be here. And yes, I’m 43, but my dream came true, and I’m very happy for that,” Frank Nsubuga said earlier this month, as per ICC.
“I’m so proud of this (national) badge in front of me on my shirt. I cannot wait to step on that field. I’m so excited to go and play in this World Cup,” Frank added.
The commencement of the Uganda cricket team’s journey in the 2024 T20 World Cup was far from ideal, as they suffered a significant defeat against Afghanistan, losing by a margin of 125 runs at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. Afghanistan, batting first, put up a formidable total of 183 runs, losing five wickets in the process. In their chase, Uganda struggled and could only manage a meager total of 58 runs. Fazalhaq Farooqi of Afghanistan emerged as the standout performer, claiming a five-wicket haul against Uganda.
