UAE coach Aaqib Javed welcomed the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to allow associate teams play Test cricket, saying that is now the target for the Gulf nation.
On Thursday, the world’s governing body introduced the ICC Test Challenge which will take place between the lowest ranked Test team and the winner of the ICC InterContinental Cup (from 2015 to 2017), which is usually contested by the top Associate teams, including the UAE.
The inaugural competition will see the two teams play two Tests home and away in 2018.
“The ICC has done a wonderful job by announcing this opportunity to allow associates to play Test cricket,” Javed told Sport360°.
“There’s always been an encouragement from the ICC to allow associates to be given the opportunity to play World Cups and now being able to play a Test match is a wonderful idea. This is the only way more teams will be able to play at Test level. It gives us hope and it’s something we can work hard to achieve.”
Asked if four years is enough time to prepare for a potential Test match, the 41-year-old replied: “Yes definitely. We can strive towards that target.
“I think four years is a good enough time to prepare and hope we can do well. We already play four-day matches (in the InterContinental Cup). It’s a good format and it’s good news for associates especially for us.
“We are still 25 per cent behind the top teams. Previously we used to practice two and half hours but for the last six to eight weeks, we have been training five hours a day from 17:00 to 22:00.
“We want to move forward and there’s no reason not to look up and get ready for the biggest challenge,” said Javed, who played 22 Tests for Pakistan.
In the last edition of the Intercontinental Cup (2011-13), UAE finished fourth with 60 points behind Scotland, Afghanistan and winners Ireland.
Meanwhile, the ICC board has agreed to retain the format of the 2014 World Twenty20 for the 2016 tournament to be held in India.
The board also ratified the appointment of Australia coach Darren Lehmann and the West Indies coach Ottis Gibson as the representatives of national coaches on the ICC Cricket Committee following the completion of South Africa coach Gary Kirsten’s term.
