Pakistan-born Riazat Ali Shah from Uganda national cricket team has expressed his desire to play against Babar Azam and Virat Kohli in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Uganda have recently booked their tickets for the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA after a top-two finish in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifier.

Uganda’s allrounder Riazat Ali Shah, who hails from Gilgit, while talking to ARY News opened up about his wish to play against Azam and Kohli.

“It is an honour for me to play in the T20 World Cup for Uganda,” said Riazat Ali Shah.

“I wish that my team [Uganda] gets placed in the same group as India and Pakistan in T20 World Cup,” he added.

“I want to play against Babar Azam and Virat Kohli,” he concluded.

Upon being asked, Riazat Ali Shah shared which players are his ideals in batting and bowling.

“I like Wasim Akram in bowling and Kevin Pietersen in batting.”

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Notably, this will be the first-ever appearance of Uganda in an ICC World Cup event as they will become only the fifth African nation to feature in the T20 World Cup.

During the T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifiers, Uganda overcame Tanzania in their opening game by a comfortable margin of eight wickets.

However, in the next game, a brilliant 4/17 from Namibian all-rounder David Wiese handed them a six-wicket defeat.

The African side made a comeback in grand style in the next game, defeating the Test-playing Zimbabwe by five wickets.

While skipper Sikandar Raza’s 48* starred for his side, Uganda’s bowling effort led by Dinesh Nakrani (3/14), restricted the Chevrons to 136/7.

During the chase, the Cricket Cranes were guided by Riazat Ali Shah (42) and Alpesh Ramjani (40). They won with five wickets to spare in a major cricketing upset.

Lifted by this effort, the side then overcame Nigeria with ease. They followed up with a 33-run win over Kenya, to have one foot into the T20 World Cup.

They ensured the same with a comfortable nine-wicket win over Rwanda. They rendered a top-notch bowling effort, which bowled out Rwanda for merely 65.

The target was then chased down by the ninth over mark.

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