UK tour delayed but UAE head coach Dougie Brown says it will not affect preparations for Netherlands series

Denzil Pinto 21:01 28/06/2017
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  • Head coach Dougie Brown insists preparations for their ODI series against the Netherlands will not be affected after their UK tour was delayed.

    The national team were scheduled to fly to Birmingham on Thursday for a short training camp before moving to Netherlands for three limited-overs matches beginning on July 10 against the Dutch.

    The reason has not been disclosed but the amendment to the itinerary means the 14-man squad will now catch a flight straight to Amsterdam.

    “The UK tour has been delayed and we will not be going to UK now but going straight to Netherlands,” said Brown, who was appointed the full-time head coach last month.

    He had served a successful three-month stint as interim where under his helm, the team won ODI and T20 series’ and the four-day ICC Continental match against Papua New Guinea and a limited-overs series against Oman in Muscat.

    “It will be exciting to play against a side (Netherlands) who are on top of their game and have just beaten Zimbabwe in a ODI series.”

    Brown will oversee the team’s preparations in Dubai until their departure but insists the UK tour shouldn’t be used as an excuse against the Dutchmen.

    “Not really,” when asked if it would affect their preparations.

    “It’s disappointing obviously but we all believe that we’re in a good place with regards to our cricket.

    “We will still be working hard over here in Dubai on areas which will be important for us against the Netherlands.

    “Whatever happens, we will be leaving the UAE in a very good shape as a team that will go out there and compete.

    “I strongly believe we’re in a good place at the moment and have got a couple of weeks until the series to do things appropriately.

    “Once we get there (at Netherlands), there should be no excuse. We will be well prepared and it’s something that we’re all looking forward to.”

    Despite the hot climate, the national team have continued to train indoors this month even during Ramadan at the ICC Academy.

    The centre will continue to host Brown’s side until their departure and the 47-year-old wants to make the most of that advantage if they want to produce a result.

    “That’s the challenge isn’t it,” said the former Warwickshire boss.

    “The great thing about playing international cricket is that you can actually prepare for specific matches. The conditions we play in the Netherlands will be very different to what we are used to playing here.

    “And we got to make sure that we use the facilities here in a smart way and I feel we have done that so far.

    “We got to make sure that we are practising the skills we want to use there, here in Dubai and hopefully we can be competitive.”

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