Ugandan all-rounder Alpesh Ramjani transitioned from Mumbai’s cricket scene to Uganda due to job loss during Covid. Despite the setback, he found a job and a spot in international cricket.
The loss of his job during the pandemic opened doors to international cricket for Ramjani, who emerged as the world’s top wicket-taker in T20 Internationals in 2023. He became an integral part of the Uganda cricket team, qualifying for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA.
Facing financial difficulties after losing his job and experiencing family business losses, Ramjani decided to move to Uganda, encouraged by his friend Dinesh Nakrani, a left-arm medium pace bowling all-rounder who had already made a name for himself in Uganda.
Ramjani’s journey to Uganda started around April 2022, where he found employment and continued playing cricket, securing a spot in the Aziz Damani Club. His performance in the league earned him a call-up to the Uganda national team, leading to his debut in the Africa Cricket Association (ACA) Africa T20 Cup in December 2022.
His success continued as he played a pivotal role in Uganda’s victory in the ACA T20 Cup in December 2023. Despite staying in Kampala, Ramjani frequently travels for cricket tournaments, currently being with the national team in Sri Lanka.
Having played alongside notable Indian cricketers like Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, and Suryakumar Yadav in Mumbai’s under-16 and under-19 teams, Ramjani feels honored to represent Uganda internationally. He sees the T20 World Cup as a platform to showcase his talent, hoping for opportunities in other T20 franchise leagues.
Ramjani expresses gratitude to the Mumbai Cricket Association for laying the foundation for his cricket career and acknowledges the Uganda Cricket Association for providing him with the opportunity to play at the international level.
He believes that a good performance in the T20 World Cup could lead to more opportunities in the cricketing world.
