UAE’s retired star and ex-skipper Khurram Khan is impressed with Ahmed Raza’s captaincy qualities and is confident the UAE will achieve “great things”, but warned the fans that results will take time.
Spinner Raza was named captain in November, replacing former skipper Mohammad Tauqir after the team’s failure to qualify for this year’s World Twenty20 last July.
He takes charges of a team going through a transitional phase following retirements of key players – Tauqir, Khurram and Saqib Ali – with UAE coach Aaqib Javed building towards the future.
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Raza, 27, with 83 international caps, is no stranger to wearing the captaincy band.
He has previously been an understudy to Khurram as vice-captain and it was only a matter of time before he became skipper.
Despite back-to-back defeats against Hong Kong in the four-day ICC Intercontinental Cup and World Cricket League in November, Raza’s men has put on some encouraging displays, winning against Oman before pushing England Lions all the way in a 3-2 T20 series loss.
And it is those performances that have impressed Khurram, who retired from international cricket in June last year.
With the UAE meeting Netherlands in Abu Dhabi in the ICC Intercontinental Cup and World Cricket League later this month, the 44-year-old insists Raza can build on this positive start and has all the ingredients to become a great captain.
“The fact they gave England Lions tough fight shows he has the right captaincy skills and knowledge. He showed the same against Oman,” said Khurram, who was named ICC Associate Player of the Year last month.
“The thing I like about him is that he’s young and very enthusiastic. He knows the game inside out and his time with the UAE will help him come through. I know for sure he’s very determined.”
We speak to @1_PAK after he, Tauqir and Saqib are honoured by Dubai Cricket Council https://t.co/KCEEINuaXk pic.twitter.com/j9aDX6PgQp
— Sport360° (@Sport360) January 5, 2016
He added: “I think he will take the UAE to higher places and they can do great things. So far he’s been performing very well for the UAE and knows his stuff very well.
“We have to remember he’s only 27 but he has played a lot of cricket. It’s not going to be easy. Obviously, a lot of key players have left the team and there are new players coming in. That’s a problem and it will take time to gel as a team but I’m confident he will deliver.
“Most importantly, it’s a new team, a new beginning and a new year so I think he can take them forward and get some decent results.”
