Tauqir urges UAE to up their game after Khurram's retirement

Denzil Pinto 08:19 25/06/2015
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  • Motivated: Tauqir.

    UAE captain Mohammad Tauqir has told his team-mates to “up their game” as they prepare for their first match since the retirement of former skipper Khurram Khan.

    Khan, who had long been a mainstay of the UAE’s top order, ended his 14-year international career after their first-round loss to Ireland in the ICC Intercontinental Cup on June 5.

    Since then, Tauqir’s side has been training intensely for their important tour to UK, which begins today with the first game of a 50-over double-header against Kenya at England’s Rose Bowl Nursery ground in the ICC World Cricket League Championship.

    After their second match on Saturday, the UAE turn their focus to the World Twenty20 qualifiers and their opener against Scotland on July 9.

    Tauqir admits it’s been a strange camp without the 44-year-old Khan, who last year became the oldest ODI centurion in world cricket with a knock of 132 not out against Afghanistan.

    “Khurram has been a key batsman for the team, who has scored a lot of runs and always delivered and we will need to move on and look to the future,” said Tauqir.

    “Obviously he was an important player for us but now is a new beginning and every single player that has been selected for this tour will need to up their game and take responsibility for themselves and help the UAE succeed.”

    Batsman Khan scored over 5,000 runs in all formats and while Tauqir knows full well his absence will be a big blow, he believes a number of players can fill the void.

    “Shaiman Anwar has done really well and (debutant) Abdul Shakoor has been practising well,” added the UAE captain. “Fayyaz Ahmed has been quite consistent so I think there’s quite a few players who can step in, not just one.”

    Unlike today’s opponents, the UAE have already experienced UK conditions following their four-day game against Ireland earlier this month. While they struggled in what was an innings and 26-run defeat, Tauqir feels they must not feel nervous.

    “The boys need to be relaxed and with it being international cricket they must not go into the game with a lot of pressure,” he said.

    “They will have to be relaxed, take it easy and play their natural cricket and I’m sure we will have a positive result.”

    With the UAE beating Kenya in their last meeting in 2014, the middle-order/spinner is hoping for a repeat.

    “We’ve played Kenya a few times and have a very good record,” explained Tauqir. “We’ve been playing a lot more competitive cricket than them due to the World Cup.

    “This tournament has given us a lot of exposure and we hope that when we go into these two games, we take this confidence with us. To start the tour with a victory is very important.”

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