UAE face Group A leaders Hong Kong tomorrow knowing victory will guarantee the Gulf nation a berth in the Super Six stage and keep their hopes of qualifying for next year’s 2015 World Cup alive.
The top seeds sit in second position with four points, still well placed to advance thanks to their better run-rate, along with Scotland, who won by 53 runs in a rain-affected match between the two sides on Sunday.
They face a confident Hong Kong side, who became the first nation to qualify for the Super Six after a crushing 10-wicket win over Nepal.
UAE will want to carry over two points in the Super Six stage with victory over familiar foes Hong Kong, having missed out on possible maximum points (4) against Scotland, who look likely to advance.
Captain Khurram Khan, the tournament’s second-highest run scorer with 197, will be hoping to maintain his good form as well as Shaiman Ali, who scored 109 against Nepal, the only man to reach triple figures for the UAE.
But Javed’s side will have to deal with the bowling of the tournament’s top wicket-taker Haseeb Amjad, who has a tally of 10.
UAE will be keen to claim the wicket of Hong Kong’s Irfan Ahmed – the leading run-scorer in the competition – if they want to have a chance of winning the match.
The top two sides in the Super Six stage will qualify for next year’s showpiece event.
