Coach Franks says complete performance needed to qualify for Asia Cup

Denzil Pinto 07:50 18/02/2016
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  • New challenge: The UAE team at the Dubai airport prior to their departure to Bangladesh for the Asia Cup.

    UAE assistant coach Paul Franks has warned each and every player must perform to the best of their ability if they want to qualify for the Asia Cup main competition.

    The UAE face Afghanistan on Friday in their Twenty20 qualifier opener in Fatullah, Bangladesh before facing Oman and Hong Kong on Sunday and Monday respectively.

    With only one qualification berth available where hosts Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka await, Franks admits there’s no room

    for errors.

    “We have to put a complete performance together if we to want to progress, it’s as simple as that,” said the former England pacer.

    “If we don’t do that or if we bat really well but bowl poorly, then we can still lose.

    “Everyone in the squad needs to put in a lot of hard work over the 40 overs because that is what matters. All departments – bowling, fielding and batsmen must be on fire.”

    Everyone needs to put in a lot of hard work over the 40 overs - Franks

    Everyone needs
    to put in a lot of
    hard work over
    the 40 overs – Franks

    The UAE arrived in Bangladesh yesterday just hours after their thrilling five-run victory over Ireland in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

    It was their first triumph over the European outfit in 15 years and a result that saw them level the Twenty20 series 1-1.

    While the UAE will be buoyed by the win, a big concern is the batting where they only registered totals of 100 and 133 in those two encounters. Franks is under no illusions the batsmen need to up their game, saying partnerships will be crucial.

    “We have to put significant scores on the board and from our point of view, the stand-out player over the last 12 months is Shaiman Anwar,” he said.

    “We can’t be expected to rely on him all the time. They (batsmen) have to be brave and be accountable for themselves and I do believe
    they are good batsmen but need to work hard.”

    He added: “We have to build partnerships and assess the conditions a little bit better. We are just naive a bit when it comes to that.

    “They have to understand how important the conditions are and then play their shots accordingly. Obviously, Bangladesh is very spin-friendly, so they’ll have to adapt. If we don’t get the basics right, we’ll come unstuck.”

    A former bowler himself, Franks is impressed by the UAE’s attack and feels Mohammad Naveed and skipper Amjad Javed will play key roles.

    “Both of them are very good and important players for us,” he said.

    “We have options in the team with Ahmed Raza there and the attack is pretty much drilled, so we’ve got all bases covered.”

    Speaking of the threat posed by Afghanistan, he said: “Mohammad Shahzad is a strong batsman and their bowling and batting units are very strong. We need to be careful against them.”

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