UAE’s Ahmed Raza has urged his team-mates to play their natural game and get “ the basics right” if they want to beat Ireland on Monday and reach the World Cup Qualifier Super Six stage.
UAE enter their final World Cup Qualifier group stage match in Zimbabwe knowing a triumph over the Irish will guarantee them a place in the next round.
Even if they do lose, the UAE can still advance if other results go their way. The UAE, currently on four points and placed third in Group A, have a poor record against the Irish with no win in five ODIs.
Raza believes now is the time to end that poor run.
“What better place to change that record than in a World Cup Qualifier,” said the 29-year-old spinner. “There is no pressure on us whatsoever.
“We have played some very good cricket so far in this competition and everybody is ready for it. Ireland will be the favourites because of their record so we’ll just go out and enjoy our cricket.”
The top three teams from Group A and B move to the Super Six stage.
In the other Group A match, the West Indies take on Netherlands in another significant fixture. While West Indies are through to the Super Six stage with three wins out of three, the Dutch – placed fourth with just one victory – must win by a big margin to have any hopes of joining the two-time world champions in the next round.
“We cannot control what the other teams are doing,” said Raza, whose side needs to finish in the top three between Scotland, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong in the competition to maintain ODI status and continue receiving ICC funding until 2022.
“We can only do what we can and that is to give our best and win the game against Ireland. We know it will be hard as they have some very good players but we will have to do the basics right.”
There have already been some big shocks in the 10-team tournament. Afghanistan, who were favourites before the tournament started, will be hoping Scotland beat Nepal on Monday that will improve their chances of sneaking into the Super Six stage. The Afghans are placed third in Group B with just one win – against Nepal – and three defeats.
“I knew there will be a lot of surprises because there are 10 strong teams here,” added Raza. “It depends how you play cricket as qualifiers is always a different ball game altogether.”
