Mohammad Tauqir has promised his side of part-time cricketers will not be overawed by some of the most famous and richest names in the game when the UAE take on India in their Group B match on Saturday.
The two teams meet at the WACA with India having won both their opening matches in the 2015 World Cup, while the UAE came close to winning in each of their first two games but could not haul themselves over the line.
The matches against Zimbabwe in Nelson and against Ireland in Brisbane, were being seen as UAE’s best chances of securing a World Cup win, but Tauqir has clearly not lost hope.
“The Zimbabwe game was close. The Ireland game was even closer, so we are getting closer to the win,” said Tauqir speaking to the media.
“The Zimbabwe game was over in 48th over, and Ireland went up to the last over. So we need to finish and get over the line and win this.
UAE skipper Md Tauqir speaks to the media and promises not to be overawed by India. #cwc15 #INDvUAE @Sport_360 pic.twitter.com/BwQB7RHFll
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 27, 2015
“We know we’re playing well. We’re not getting emotional by the situation. We are taking it easy, sticking to our basics and enjoying the game. The mood in the dressing room is very, very positive. Everybody is looking forward to this game.
“We know they are big stars, but we will take this game like the last previous two games. Our intensity is going to be the same. We will not be intimidated by their names or their status in the game.”
One of UAE’s big issue with batting in the first two matches has been that, bar Shaiman Anwar, none of the top order batsmen could convert their confident starts into anything substantial. Apart from Anwar’s 67 against Zimbabwe and 106 against Ireland, UAE does not have any 50-plus score to show.
Tauqir was confident that Anwar’s century in the previous match would show his batsmen the way.
“I think we need to turn the 30s and 40s into bigger runs, and Shaiman has shown us in the last game,” said the 43-year-old skipper.
UAE fielding coach teases Krishna Karate with the ‘Karate Kid’ pose!! @Sport_360 #CWC15 pic.twitter.com/26fZoOshv8
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 27, 2015
“We’ve had maybe a little bit lapse of concentration in the middle, but we know our middle order can put up a bigger innings and this is the chat we have had in the dressing room. I’m sure we will look at some bigger innings during this tournament.”
The captain also felt the missed run out chances against Ireland were crucial, but should not be used to judge the fielding standards of the team, which have clearly improved over the past year.
“We have been working very hard on our cricket, especially on our fielding,” said Tauqir.
“We have put in really a lot of hard work. Maybe, we missed four or five chances. But it’s a direct throw…we try to hit the stump and it didn’t happen.
UAE players enjoying their time out at the famous WACA ground before match against India. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #INDvUAE pic.twitter.com/ZM10Pkr8pE
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 27, 2015
“But the boys are putting a lot of hard work in fielding. A little bit of chances are there, but overall, it was a satisfactory effort in the last two games.”
All players in the UAE squad, including Manjula Guruge and Saqlain Haider, who suffered from cramps in the match in Brisbane, are fit and available for selection.
