The United Arab Emirates (UAE) believe their Pool B match against Ireland in Brisbane, Australia, today offers them a “wonderful opportunity” of a World Cup win, batsman Khurram Khan said.
Both associate or non-Test nations know each other well, having played each other repeatedly in various lower-level International Cricket Council (ICC) competitions.
The UAE, the only amateur side in the tournament, impressed before going down by four wickets to Zimbabwe first time out, while Ireland beat the West Indies by the same margin — a result no longer classed as an upset.
Photo: Reuters
Both teams will fancy their chances at Brisbane’s Gabba and Khurram said yesterday: “I think it’s going to be a very important game, obviously.”
“They’ll be targeting us. We’ve played lots of games against them,” added Khurram, who made 45 against Zimbabwe. “I think it’s a wonderful opportunity because it’s a very important game for us as well. So we’re definitely targeting this game.”
Asked where the team needed to improve most on their performance against Zimbabwe, Khurram was clear.
“Definitely I would say in the fielding. We missed three run-out chances,” he said.
Meanwhile, Khurram insisted the UAE are an amateur side in name only.
“As we’re here, we’ll enjoy our time and be as professional as we can. Obviously, we have jobs back home, but once you’re here you completely forget about the jobs and what’s behind the scenes. We’re here to win as many games as we can,” he said.
The UAE are also unusual in having two 43-year-olds in their squad in Khurram and captain Mohammad Tauqir.
Not that either man was in a mood for a birthday party.
“We stopped celebrating after 40, actually,” Khurram said.
The way in which the four associate teams — Afghanistan, Ireland, Scotland and the UAE — have performed so far at this World Cup has led to widespread criticism of the ICC’s plan to reduce the number of teams at the 2019 edition in England from 14 to 10.
Khurram said the associates need more matches against higher-ranked sides between World Cups, adding that it is the only way to ensure they make sustained progress.
“I’d like to see us play many more matches against Test-playing nations,” he said. “You cannot just expect us to come to a World Cup and do well without playing any other games against them before the World Cup. It’s a slow process. Obviously, it’s going to take time, but you’ve seen some of the [associates’ World Cup] games. They’ve been crucial and close games, and we’re looking forward to having some good games.”
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