The much-anticipated second season of the BATBALL Program is set to kick off, featuring the BATBALL X Jinja T10 from November 27 to 30, 2025, at the Jinja SSS Cricket Oval.

This tournament, co-hosted by Batball Uganda Limited and the Jinja Association of Cricket Clubs (JACC), marks an exciting new chapter in the initiative.

Four vibrant U-22 teams will compete in the fast-paced T10 format, aligning with Batball's objective to prepare Uganda's youth for high-stakes cricket that is broadcast internationally.

Building on the success of the inaugural season in 2023, where the Central Rhinos triumphed over Rwanda’s Emerging Team, players are eager to carry forward the momentum that led to the advancement of sixteen young athletes to the BATBALL MAXX, an international franchise tournament that will be streamed globally in early 2025.

Aakarshit Madaan, CEO of BATBALL Uganda, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming season, acknowledging the steadfast support from Cricket Uganda.

He emphasised that allowing U-22 players allows university students, A-team hopefuls, and emerging talents to gain essential visibility.

"By collaborating with Cricket Uganda, we are establishing a more robust connection between youth and senior cricket."

He remarked, underscoring the readiness for international competition.

This year’s lineup introduces an invigorated group consisting of the Leopards, Bulls, Elephants, and Rhinos, all prepared for an intense double round-robin contest.

Each team will compete against one another twice before advancing to the semi-finals, a third-place match, and the championship showdown.

Over the course of four thrilling days, 16 matches will be broadcast live across the globe.

With teams composed of 14 players supported by dedicated coaches and managers, the tournament is heavily influenced by standout participants from the 2025 Boys Schools Cricket Week, along with Cricket Uganda’s extensive development framework.

Development Manager Davis Turinawe lauded the U-22 initiative as a vital move toward connecting school-level cricket with higher competitive tiers.

After the Jinja tournament, the season will proceed with the BATBALL MAXX Qualifier and conclude with the signature BATBALL MAXX tournament, promising even more excitement to come.

The quarterfinal match of the Uganda Cup featuring the Black Pirates and Impis was always expected to favour the home side, though few anticipated the final score would soar to 68 points in favour of the Pirates.

The Impis had previously demonstrated their resilience against stronger teams, putting forth a commendable fight against the Heathens and outperforming the Victoria Sharks at the Graveyard during the group stage. Conversely, the Pirates have consistently proven themselves to be in a league of their own, a fact underscored by their commanding display at King’s Park on Saturday.

Once the Sea Robbers reached 20 points, the Impis managed to respond with a couple of penalties from Darren Aine, but these efforts only slightly unsettled the Pirates. William Nkore then added another penalty, extending the score to 23-06, and shortly after, the forwards made their presence felt with a try from hooker Nathan Bwambale, successfully converted by Isaac Massangazira.

At that moment, the scoreboard began to reflect a decisive advantage, with even a try from Pius Mpoza failing to offer any solace to the Impis. Lacking defensive strength and committing numerous penalties—many stemming from offside infractions—left the Impis struggling for the majority of the match.

The scrums also highlighted the disparity in experience, as the university's forward pack found themselves overpowered by the Pirates' formidable trio of Bwambale, Ivan Kabagambe, and the second-row players Frank Kidega and Eliphaz Emong.

With this victory, the Pirates have secured home advantage for their semifinal clash against KOBs, having achieved a superior points difference against the Impis compared to what KOBs attained against Rhinos in that day's other quarterfinal.

Black Pirates 68-20 Impis