Aaqib Javed targets opening UAE Under-19 win in ACCPL opener

Denzil Pinto 06:05 27/08/2015
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  • Up for it: UAE Under-19s.

    UAE Under-19 coach Aaqib Javed believes his team must beat Nepal in their ACC Premier League opener if they want to achieve their target of a top-two finish.

    After an intense three-week training period at the Dubai Sports City-based ICC Academy, his 14-man squad arrived in Malaysia on Wednesday for the six-team 50-over event which begins on Friday.

    With Afghanistan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait also vying for glory, Javed knows it is crucial to get off to a winning start but is wary of the Nepalese side against whom UAE has struggled in the past.

    The UAE U-19 team will play Nepal, Saudi, Afghanistan, Malaysia & Kuwait.

    “The first game against Nepal is really important because the last few years, we’ve not had a good record against them and they have pushed us close,” he said.

    “The Nepalese have always dominated the UAE at junior level and that will be a key game. If we can upset Nepal and win that game then I think we have a chance of claiming a top-two finish.

    “The aim is to compete with all the teams and the bigger task would be to compete with Nepal and Afghanistan especially. If we do well in those two games, we have a chance for a good tournament.”

    He added: “The Nepalese are very passionate and spend a lot of time playing cricket. Cricket in Nepal is the same how it is in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh – they play every day and are very good.”

    Having overseen training in Dubai, Javed singled out a number of his players that could shine. “I’ve spent three weeks with the team and I got to know everything about them, like their strengths and weaknesses,” he said.

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    “I’ve been really impressed with Kulith Rabel, Ethan Holmes and especially Mohammed Riyan, who have done well recently in training. They are good strong batsmen and capable of scoring big.

    “Yodhin Punja and Naseeruddin Khan have also done well and they will be key for us, along with some of the spinners we have. I think we have a good all-round team that is capable of competing well.”

    One player who missed the team’s training sessions in Dubai is captain Waruna Perera. The 18-year-old joined his team-mates in Malaysia from his native Sri Lanka due to personal issues but Javed feels his absence will not have much impact.

    “I’ve known him for the last two years and he’s a very sensible and intelligent cricketer so it won’t be much of a difference,” said the 1992 World Cup winner.

    “He was part of the team when the ECB Greens were playing in the Abu Dhabi Ramadan tournament, so everyone knows him and I’m sure he will cope well.”

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