Natasha Michael still shocked after being named UAE captain again after 10 years

Denzil Pinto 01:26 19/08/2017
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  • A decade after captaining the UAE aged just 12, Natasha Michael says it’s surreal that she will now be leading the national team again for next month’s Indoor World Cup in Dubai.

    Michael, 23, was named by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) on Wednesday as the skipper for the women’s side in the week-long tournament from September 16-23 at Insportz Club.

    It will be the first time she will wear the armband since skippering the first UAE outdoor women’s side 10 years ago and insists it’s a real privilege to be appointed again especially in a different format on home soil.

    “I still can’t believe it,” the batswoman said. “I was still in a bit of shock when I found out and it’s a very big responsibility but it’s something I’m definitely looking forward to and playing with this team. I was captain when I was 12 and it’s quite ironic because that was exactly 10 years ago and with it being the Indoor World Cup, I’m very grateful that the ECB has allowed me to lead the side.”

    “I think it was a long time ago but I’m pretty sure I still have the same butterflies I had than 10 years ago when they told me I would be captain. It’s the same feeling and nothing’s changed.

    “Getting news like this you don’t hear things like this every day and it was definitely the good kind of butterflies in my stomach.”

    Despite studying in India bet-ween 2010-15, she has been a regular member of the outdoor UAE set-up and was part of the squad that won the 2015 Gulf Cup, while also finishing second in the UAE International Women’s Cup a year later.

    Having gradually become a key player, Michael insists reclaiming the armband was never a priority and was just happy to be just part of the team.

    She added: “No, it was never on my mind,” she said. “Whatever role it was, I’d be happy with. At the end of the day, your whole team has to do the job so you just need someone to reassure you that you guys are good. It never really popped into my head about being captain or not, I just wanted to play.”

    The World Cup will see eight teams battle for glory and while Michael admits the indoor format will be challenging, she says one of the aims is to raise the profile of the UAE women’s cricket team.

    “Indoor cricket was always the fun format where you can play with your friends and family,” said Michael. “I think everyone including me wanted to participate because it would help them develop as a cricketer. That was one of the main reasons and we’ve never been exposed to this type of cricket.

    “To think that there’s an actual Indoor World Cup is just mind blowing and that people take this format very seriously.

    “It’s very exciting because there are a whole lot different new things compared to outdoor cricket.

    “Everyone is striving to improve and play well. We don’t have any pressure on us in terms of the other teams who are playing.
    “As a team, we are so good individually which means we work so well together.

    “I think no-one is worried about the results right now, everyone is looking at it as one game at a time and see how we perform. We just want to boost our morale.”

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