Chirag Suri has vowed to raise his game and score “big runs” for the UAE in their matches against Namibia despite being satisfied with his performances against Netherlands.
Suri, 22, has retained his place in the 14-man squad for next month’s matches against the African outfit after scoring 25 runs in the triumphant 2-1 50-over series tour against Netherlands in July.
It means the batsman will have another chance to prove his potential when the UAE take on Namibia in the four-day ICC Intercontinental Cup from September 16-19, as well as the two 50-over World Cricket League matches later that month.
And while he’s wary of the stern competition he faces, he is adamant to deliver whenever his opportunity comes.
“I was satisfied over there (in Netherlands) but I still want to be getting more runs,” said Suri, who was bought by Gujarat Lions in this year’s IPL auction.
“ I think being satisfied means you just hold back and be happy with what you got but I don’t think like that. I’m always happy with what I’ve got. I’m still happy with what I did there. It was rainy conditions and hard to score but I still want to do more and score the big runs for the UAE.”
If Suri does line up for the I-Cup game at Windhoek’s Wanderers Cricket Ground, he would be making his first-class debut.
It would be a big step up to a format he’s relatively unknown in, having played various T20 and 50-over matches. But it’s a challenge he’s ready to embrace.
“Obviously, the biggest challenge is the longest format because it’s the biggest test in today’s game,” said the former U-19 player. “You want to prove yourself in that level and if I do play, I’ll be making my first-class debut and want to get a couple of good scores.
“The amount of four-day cricket that we play in the UAE is negligible. Obviously, it’s not something that comes naturally to us and the coaches have really been putting the emphasis of staying as long as we can on the wicket. I want to be playing all three formats for the UAE so want to cement my place in the four-day side although it won’t be easy.”
The team will step up their preparations next Monday by flying to Pretoria for a 12-day training camp at Cricket South Africa High Performance Centre and in Windhoek.
Head coach Dougie Brown has already underlined the importance of that camp considering the matches in the Namibian capital will be played 5,600 feet above sea level.
And Suri is sure that will have a big impact on the whole team. “We have a very good preparation camp which is very exciting and very good opportunity for the boys to get used to the conditions,” he said.
“In Dubai, we have been practicing a lot and South Africa will be great to nuture the skills before then producing the goods against Namibia.”
