UAE coach Aaqib Javed is hoping the series of four one-day internationals against Afghanistan starting this week in Dubai will help prepare his team for next year’s World Cup.
The February-March World Cup will be UAE’s second after they featured in the 1996 event held in the subcontinent while for Afghanistan it will be their maiden appearance in a 50-over tournament.
Javed, a former Pakistan paceman, said he would have liked his team to compete against a full Test playing nation.
“Look, it would have been ideal had we got a few matches against a top team but all of them are busy so even playing against a one-day status team will give us good preparation,” Javed said.
The four one-day matches will be played on November 28, 30, December 2 and 4 – all at the International Cricket Council Academy in Dubai.