UAE confident ahead of big month of cricket on home turf

Barnaby Read 14:23 02/11/2015
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  • The UAE have been disappointing in recent months.

    UAE coach Aaqib Javed is confident that his side is back on track as they prepare for an action packed month of cricket on home soil.

    The UAE will play a total of nine games in November, across T20, 50-over, two and four day formats.

    Those fixtures include a return to Intercontinental Cup competition for the first time since being embarrassed by an innings defeat to Ireland in March.

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    That defeat preceded the World T20 qualification campaign in the UK which Javed’s side came away from with the solitary win, a frustrating end to their hopes of reaching a successive World T20 tournament.

    Javed is hoping that his charges are ready to make the most of the experiences to come this month.

    “November presents a great opportunity for UAE cricket,” Aqib told the ICC website.

    “After a tough few weeks in the UK and Ireland in the last round of the I-Cup and WCLC, we feel as though we’re moving in the right direction.

    “We have full-time contracts in place for the first time and a full-time selection panel. And the chance to play a two-day match against Pakistan is a brilliant opportunity.”

    The former Pakistan international has already stated he will use the fixtures to blood new players and was keen to reiterate that point after the announcement of the upcoming matches.

    “There’s Hong Kong in the I-Cup, then the two WCLC games before a big one against England,” said Javed.

    “We have mixed up the squad and there are four or five new guys, including a 16-year-old fast bowler called Yodhin Punja who is very promising.

    “We know that we have to support our youngsters and we can experiment a bit and hopefully get some wins along the way. It’s a great time for UAE cricket and there’s a lot to be excited about.” 

    Punja finished as leading wicket-taker at this year’s ACC U19 Premier League and has been earmarked as a future star for some time.

    After the retirement of veteran batsmen Saqib Ali and Khurram Khan this year, the likes of Chirag Suri will also be keen to impress over the course of the coming month.

    UAE fixtures in November:
    Saturday 7 November
    Day 1 of 2: UAE v Oman (Ajman)
    Sunday 8 November
    Day 2 of 2: UAE v Oman (Ajman)
    Wednesday 11 November
    Intercontinental Cup (Day 1 of 4): UAE v Hong Kong (ICC Academy 1)
    Thursday 12 November
    Intercontinental Cup (Day 2 of 4): UAE v Hong Kong (ICC Academy 1)
    Friday 13 November
    Intercontinental Cup (Day 3 of 4): UAE v Hong Kong (ICC Academy 1)
    Saturday 14 November
    Intercontinental Cup (Day 4 of 4): UAE v Hong Kong (ICC Academy 1)
    Monday 16 November
    World Cricket League Championship: UAE v Hong Kong (ICC Academy 1)
    Wednesday 18 November
    World Cricket League Championship: UAE v Hong Kong (ICC Academy 1)
    Sunday 22 November
    T20I: UAE v Oman (Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi)
    Monday 23 November
    T20: England XI v UAE (Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, d/n)

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