UAE’s Rameez Shahzad has warned Scotland to expect a tough day in their World Cricket League (WCL) meeting, saying he’s hungry as ever to score a century after being frustrated in their four-day game.
The 28-year-old batsman could not have asked for a better start to his first-class debut with 74 runs but was denied by rain to add to that total as the four-day Intercontinental Cup was abandoned on Friday with only 66 overs played in Ayr.
Shahzad has the chance to carry on from where he started in today’s 50-over WCL encounter in Edinburgh and is determined to go even better with the bat.
“It was a really good show by us and we were at 212-5 before the match was called off,” he said. “It was ashame that I couldn’t score my maiden first-class century. I really want to maintain that form and score a century in the ODIs.”
Today’s clash will be his first competitive limited-overs appearance since the 2008 ACC Trophy Final against Hong Kong in Malaysia, after he had to re-qualify to play for the UAE having studied in England.
He has been involved in the national set-up over the last year, playing against England XI and Lions in practice matches and is eager to make up for lost time.
“It’s been quite frustrating not to have played but it feels great to be back and hopefully I can make the most out of it,” he said.
The tourists are bottom of the eight-team standings with just one win in six games. But Paul Franks’ troops will fancy their chances of claiming maximum points.
“We will make things difficult for them because we have an aggressive style and have a really balanced squad,” he said. “Hopefully we can perform well and beat Scotland.”
