Uganda’s Women’s Cricket Team, the indomitable Victoria Pearls, are poised to unfurl their wings on the world stage as they storm into the Emerging Women’s Trophy 2025 in Thailand. From November 18 to December 1, the Pearls will trade leather and willow with the world’s top emerging nations, carrying the hopes of a country eager to see its heroines soar.
Riding a tidal wave of momentum after their commanding 5–0 sweep over Canada Women in late October, the Pearls arrive in Bangkok with confidence stitched into every seam of their strategy. Head coach Teddy Oyella has sculpted a squad that marries youthful flair with seasoned grit, a blend that has transformed Uganda into one of the continent’s most exciting cricket stories.
The tournament, a cornerstone of the ICC’s ambitious roadmap to expand the Women’s T20 World Cup to 16 teams by 2030, represents more than a competition, it is a global stage for rising giants. Uganda will open their campaign on November 20 against Scotland at the iconic Terdthai Cricket Ground, a match expected to test both their nerve and newfound swagger.
At the heart of the team stands Phiona Kulume, a firebrand cricketer who honed her steel during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier in Namibia. With the quiet intensity of a warrior and the voice of a leader, Kulume declares her team ready: “We are prepared to take on the best emerging teams and leave our mark.” Her words echo like a rallying drumbeat in a side bursting with ambition.
The stakes could not be higher. Only four teams will advance, and the tournament champion earns a golden ticket to the 2027 Champions Trophy. With dreams sharpened into determination, the Victoria Pearls march into Thailand not just to participate, but to prove that Uganda’s cricketing sunrise has only just begun.
