2024 T20 World Cup: Uganda create history by qualifying, Zimbabwe knocked out

In what can be termed a historic feat, Uganda has qualified for a T20 World Cup for the first time in their cricketing history. The team enters the upcoming global tournament after going past Rwanda in the final round of African region qualifiers, which were concluded on Thursday, 30 November.

Alongside, Uganda has sprung a major upset on Zimbabwe who have once again missed out on the chance to feature in a World Cup. Uganda will join Namibia on their journey to the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup, which is set to be played in the West Indies and the United States from 4 June to 30 June. 

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Having made it to the final stage, Zimbabwe were required to defeat Kenya in their fixture but needed Rwanda to get the better of Uganda in the same vein. However, Rwanda, who have had a rather poor run in the tournament, were bowled out for a measly 65 which Uganda chased down in 8.1 overs. Rwanda bow out of the qualifiers without a win to their name.

For Zimbabwe, the loss they endured against Uganda on Sunday, 26 November, has proven to be mighty costly. As per Cricbuzz, skipper Sikander Raza's heroics managed to take Zimbabwe to 217 but being placed rather precariously in the points table meant that they had left their chances in another team's hands. 

Zimbabwe, once known to be a formidable side, has struggled of late to even qualify for the World Cups. Having failed to make it to the 2019 and 2023 ODI World Cups, the African nation was disbarred from the 2021 T20 World Cup by the ICC owing to the excessive interference of government in its cricket administration. Their rather poor performance in the 2022 T20 World Cup meant that they could not qualify directly for the 2024 men's T20 World Cup.

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As far as the 2024 tournament is concerned, as many as 20 nations will battle it out over 55 games. Aside from the big-league nations, the United States, Papua New Guinea, Canada, Nepal, Oman, Namibia and Uganda, too, will participate. The Netherlands, too, have qualified by virtue of their performance in the 2022 T20 World Cup.