2025 Pearl of Africa T20 Series

2025 Pearl of Africa T20 Series
Dates17 – 27 July 2025
Administrator(s)Uganda Cricket Association
Cricket formatTwenty20 International and Twenty20
Tournament format(s)Double round-robin
Host(s)Uganda
Champions Uganda (2nd title)
Runners-up United Arab Emirates
Participants5
Matches18
Most runsUganda Raghav Dhawan (228)
Most wicketsUnited Arab Emirates Haider Ali (13)

The 2025 Pearl of Africa T20 Series was a men's Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket tournament played in Entebbe, Uganda, in July 2025.[1][2] This was the second edition of the tournament, and is being organized by the Uganda Cricket Association.[3] The participating teams were the hosts Uganda along with the national teams from Kenya and United Arab Emirates and the A team of Namibia.[4][5] Kuwait were also originally scheduled to participate, but it was announced on 26 June that the tournament had been reduced to four teams.[6] On 3 July, it was announced that Nigeria joined the tournament as the fifth team.[7]

Squads

 Kenya[8]  Namibia A[9]  Nigeria[10]  Uganda[11]  United Arab Emirates[12]

Uganda also named a separate "A" squad for their matches against Namibia A.[13]

Points table

Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR
1  Uganda 6 6 0 0 12 1.458
2  United Arab Emirates 6 4 2 0 8 2.032
3  Kenya 6 2 4 0 4 −0.855
4  Nigeria 6 0 6 0 0 −2.734
Source: ESPNcricinfo[14]

Fixtures

17 July 2025
13:30
Scorecard
Kenya 
108/8 (16 overs)
v
 Nigeria
88/9 (16 overs)
Tanzeel Sheikh 26 (20)
Sylvester Okpe 4/11 (4 overs)
Prosper Useni 36 (19)
Vraj Patel 3/5 (3 overs)
Kenya won by 20 runs
Entebbe Cricket Oval, Entebbe
Umpires: John Mayeku (Uga) and Isaac Oyieko (Ken)
Player of the match: Vraj Patel (Ken)
  • Kenya won the toss and elected to bat.
  • The match was reduced to 16 overs per side due to rain.

18 July 2025
09:30
Scorecard
Uganda 
180/4 (20 overs)
v
 Nigeria
85/5 (18 overs)
Robinson Obuya 58* (39)
Prosper Useni 1/18 (2 overs)
Isaac Danladi 26 (44)
Matthew Musinguzi 2/16 (3 overs)
Uganda won by 77 runs (DLS method)
Entebbe Cricket Oval, Entebbe
Umpires: Charles Kariuki (Ken) and Isaac Oyieko (Ken)
Player of the match: Robinson Obuya (Uga)
  • Uganda won the toss and elected to bat.
  • No further play was possible due to rain.
  • Matthew Musinguzi (Uga) made his T20I debut.
  • David Ankrah played in his first T20I for Nigeria after previously playing 4 T20Is for Ghana, becoming the twentieth cricketer to represent two international teams in men's T20Is.

18 July 2025
13:30
Scorecard
United Arab Emirates 
161/7 (20 overs)
v
 Kenya
121 (20 overs)
Rahul Chopra 45* (40)
Sachin Gill 2/36 (4 overs)
Dhiren Gondaria 45 (42)
Haider Ali 2/15 (4 overs)
United Arab Emirates won by 40 runs
Entebbe Cricket Oval, Entebbe
Umpires: Simon Kintu (Uga) and John Mayeku (Uga)
Player of the match: Rahul Chopra (UAE)
  • United Arab Emirates won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Muhammad Rohid (UAE) made his T20I debut.

19 July 2025
13:30
Scorecard
Uganda 
126/9 (20 overs)
v
 United Arab Emirates
120/8 (20 overs)
Raghav Dhawan 44 (42)
Muhammad Rohid 3/23 (4 overs)
Muhammad Waseem 33 (28)
Juma Miyagi 3/28 (4 overs)
Uganda won by 6 runs
Entebbe Cricket Oval, Entebbe
Umpires: John Mayeku (Uga) and Isaac Oyieko (Ken)
Player of the match: Alpesh Ramjani (Uga)
  • Uganda won the toss and elected to bat.

21 July 2025
09:30
Scorecard
Nigeria 
58 (13.3 overs)
v
 United Arab Emirates
59/3 (4.5 overs)
Isaac Danladi 17 (27)
Zuhaib Zubair 5/21 (3.3 overs)
Alishan Sharafu 36 (16)
Prosper Useni 1/3 (1 over)
United Arab Emirates won by 7 wickets
Entebbe Cricket Oval, Entebbe
Umpires: James Bamulese (Uga) and Simon Kintu (Uga)
Player of the match: Zuhaib Zubair (UAE)

21 July 2025
13:30
Scorecard
Uganda 
157/5 (20 overs)
v
 Kenya
129/7 (20 overs)
Raghav Dhawan 41 (39)
Peter Langat 2/25 (3 overs)
Rakep Patel 58 (49)
Frank Nsubuga 3/10 (3 overs)
Uganda won by 28 runs
Entebbe Cricket Oval, Entebbe
Umpires: Charles Kariuki (Ken) and Isaac Oyieko (Ken)
Player of the match: Frank Nsubuga (Uga)
  • Uganda won the toss and elected to bat.

22 July 2025
13:30
Scorecard
Uganda 
147/6 (20 overs)
v
 Nigeria
109 (18.1 overs)
Shrideep Mangela 51 (42)
Mohameed Taiwo 2/18 (4 overs)
Isaac Okpe 26* (20)
Dinesh Nakrani 3/11 (3 overs)
Uganda won by 38 runs
Entebbe Cricket Oval, Entebbe
Umpires: James Bamulese (Uga) and Simon Kintu (Uga)
Player of the match: Shrideep Mangela (Uga)
  • Uganda won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Innocent Mwebaze and Calvin Watuwa (Uga) both made their T20I debuts.

23 July 2025
09:30
Scorecard
Kenya 
98 (20 overs)
v
 United Arab Emirates
101/3 (13.5 overs)
Pushkar Sharma 42 (39)
Zuhaib Zubair 2/13 (4 overs)
Muhammad Zohaib 35* (36)
Dhiren Gondaria 2/31 (3.5 overs)
United Arab Emirates won by 7 wickets
Entebbe Cricket Oval, Entebbe
Umpires: Charles Kariuki (Ken) and Isaac Oyieko (Ken)
Player of the match: Zuhaib Zubair (UAE)
  • Kenya won the toss and elected to bat.

25 July 2025
09:30
Scorecard
Kenya 
124/8 (20 overs)
v
 Uganda
125/4 (18.1 overs)
Rakep Patel 37 (36)
Cosmas Kyewuta 2/25 (4 overs)
Raghav Dhawan 32 (46)
Lucas Oluoch 1/6 (1.1 overs)
Uganda won by 6 wickets
Entebbe Cricket Oval, Entebbe
Umpires: Charles Kariuki (Ken) and Simon Kintu (Uga)
Player of the match: Dinesh Nakrani (Uga)
  • Uganda won the toss and elected to field.

26 July 2025
09:30
Scorecard
United Arab Emirates 
141/4 (20 overs)
v
 Nigeria
88 (18.5 overs)
Muhammad Zohaib 50 (48)
Sulaimon Runsewe 1/14 (2 overs)
David Ankrah 24 (17)
Ethan D'Souza 4/9 (2.5 overs)
United Arab Emirates won by 53 runs
Entebbe Cricket Oval, Entebbe
Umpires: James Bamulese (Uga) and Simon Kintu (Uga)
Player of the match: Ethan D'Souza (UAE)
  • United Arab Emirates won the toss and elected to bat.

27 July 2025
09:30
Scorecard
Nigeria 
113/9 (20 overs)
v
 Kenya
116/4 (19.1 overs)
Sylvester Okpe 35 (37)
Sachin Gill 2/10 (4 overs)
Sachin Gill 35 (42)
Mohameed Taiwo 1/6 (1 over)
Kenya won by 6 wickets
Entebbe Cricket Oval, Entebbe
Umpires: Charles Kariuki (Ken) and Simon Kintu (Uga)
Player of the match: Sachin Gill (Ken)
  • Nigeria won the toss and elected to bat.

27 July 2025
13:30
Scorecard
Uganda 
170/7 (20 overs)
v
 United Arab Emirates
162/9 (20 overs)
Alpesh Ramjani 61 (34)
Akif Raja 2/31 (4 overs)
Ethan D'Souza 32 (17)
Dinesh Nakrani 2/24 (4 overs)
Uganda won by 8 runs
Entebbe Cricket Oval, Entebbe
Umpires: John Mayeku (Uga) and Isaac Oyieko (Ken)
Player of the match: Alpesh Ramjani (Uga)
  • Uganda won the toss and elected to bat.

Additional T20 matches

17 July 2025
09:30
Scorecard
Namibia A 
145/6 (20 overs)
v
 Uganda A
143/5 (20 overs)
Jan Balt 48 (41)
Baidhu Ivan 3/23 (4 overs)
Simon Ssesazi 66 (66)
Jan-Izak de Villiers 2/20 ( 4 overs)
Namibia A won by 2 runs
Entebbe Cricket Oval, Entebbe
Umpires: James Bamulese (Uga) and Simon Kintu (Uga)
Player of the match: Jan Balt (Namibia A)
  • Namibia A won the toss and elected to bat.

19 July 2025
09:30
Scorecard
Nigeria 
111 (19 overs)
v
 Namibia A
115/2 (15.2 overs)
Sylvester Okpe 27 (28)
Dylan Leicher 4/26 (4 overs)
Handre Klazinge 55* (40)
Peter Aho 1/15 (3 overs)
Namibia A won by 8 wickets
Entebbe Cricket Oval, Entebbe
Umpires: James Bamulese (Uga) and Charles Kariuki (Ken)
Player of the match: Dylan Leicher (Namibia A)
  • Nigeria won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Liam Basson, Max Heingo, Dian Neethling, Zacheo van Vuuren (Namibia A) and Solomon Chilemanya (Nga) all made their T20 debuts.

22 July 2025
09:30
Scorecard
Namibia A 
113/8 (20 overs)
v
 Kenya
83/7 (12.5 overs)
Jan-Izak de Villiers 33 (27)
Peter Langat 3/28 (4 overs)
Lucas Oluoch 31* (17)
Zacheo van Vuuren 2/9 (2 overs)
Kenya won by 3 wickets (DLS method)
Entebbe Cricket Oval, Entebbe
Umpires: Simon Kintu (Uga) and John Mayeku (Uga)
Player of the match: Lucas Oluoch (Ken)
  • Kenya won the toss and elected to field.
  • Kenya were set a revised target of 83 runs in 13 overs due to rain.

23 July 2025
13:30
Scorecard
Uganda A 
127/8 (20 overs)
v
 Namibia A
124/7 (20 overs)
Anas Baig 45 (31)
Jan Balt 2/16 (3 overs)
Liam Basson 25 (26)
Kenneth Waiswa 3/28 (4 overs)
Uganda A won by 3 runs
Entebbe Cricket Oval, Entebbe
Umpires: James Bamulese (Uga) and John Mayeku (Uga)
Player of the match: Anas Baig (Uganda A)
  • Uganda A won the toss and elected to bat.

25 July 2025
13:30
Scorecard
Nigeria 
105/9 (20 overs)
v
 Namibia A
99/8 (20 overs)
Jan Balt 35 (40)
Isaac Danladi 2/13 (4 overs)
Nigeria won by 6 runs
Entebbe Cricket Oval, Entebbe
Umpires: John Mayeku (Uga) and Isaac Oyieko (Ken)
Player of the match: Abdulrahman Jimoh (Nga)
  • Nigeria won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Adriaan Coetzee (Namibia A) made his T20 debut.

26 July 2025
13:30
Scorecard
Kenya 
126/6 (20 overs)
v
 Namibia A
123/2 (20 overs)
Dhiren Gondaria 39* (20)
Zhivago Groenewald 2/17 (4 overs)
Zacheo van Vuuren 62 (53)
Francis Mutua 1/24 (3 overs)
Kenya won by 3 runs
Entebbe Cricket Oval, Entebbe
Umpires: Charles Kariuki (Ken) and Isaac Oyieko (Ken)
Player of the match: Dhiren Gondaria (Ken)
  • Kenya won the toss and elected to bat.

References

  1. ^ "Uganda to host Pearl of Africa T20 Cricket Series". Xinhua. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  2. ^ "Hosts Uganda Express Readiness For Pearl Of Africa T20 Series". SportsNation. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Second edition of the Pearl of Africa T20 series launched". Rora Media Sports. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Uganda cricket to host 2nd edition of Pearl of Africa T20I tournament in July 2025". Czarsportz. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Pearl of Africa T20 Series Launched, World Class Experience Expected at Entebbe Cricket Oval". Voice of Bugerere. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  6. ^ "Cricket Cranes in Pearl of Africa Series test ahead of T20 Qualifiers". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  7. ^ "POA T20 Series - Nigeria's Yellow Greens Replace Kuwait, Playing Format Changes". Uganda Cricket Association. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Team Announcement for the 2nd Edition of Africa T20I Tournament". Cricket Kenya. Retrieved 15 July 2025 – via Instagram.
  9. ^ "PEARL OF AFRICA SERIES Our Namibia A squad is ready for Uganda! Stay tuned for livestream details". Cricket Namibia. Retrieved 16 July 2025 – via Instagram.
  10. ^ "Yellow Greens set for Pearl of Africa cricket tourney". Punch. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Pearl Of Africa Series: New captain, two debutants in Cricket Cranes squad". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  12. ^ "Muhammad Waseem to lead UAE in Pearl of Africa T20I Series in Uganda". Emirates Cricket Board. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  13. ^ "POA T20 series: Coach Abhay Sharma happy to unleash exciting debutants Calvin Watuwa and Matthew Musinguzi". Uganda Cricket Association. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Pearl of Africa T20I Series 2025 - Points Table". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 July 2025.