UAE calls up 24 players with focus on World Cup

Sharjah: In a determined bid to ensure victory over Netherlands in the International Cricket Council Intercontinental Cup and Pepsi ICC World Cricket League and thereby strengthen their chances of playing in the 2015 World Cup, UAE cricket officials have shortlisted 24 players for an extensive coaching camp.

The two competitions are part of ICC's High Performance Programme for the top eight associate teams.

Speaking to Gulf News, Mazhar Khan, administrator of the Emirates Cricket Board said: "Mohammad Reda Abbas, the chief selector of the Emirates Cricket Board selection committee, has announced a shortlist of 24 players for an extensive camp prior to the final selection. The camp will be held under our new coach Aaqib Javed."

Probables list

The shortlisted players are Abdul Haq, Abdul Rahman, Abdul Shakoor, Ahmad Raza, Amjad Ali, Amjad Javed, Arfan Haider, Arshad Ali, Asad Allah Sharif, Fayyaz Ahmad, Haroon Ifthakar, Khurram Khan, Manjula Gurage, Mohasan Hassan Khan, Mohammad Tauqir, Naveed Saleem, Rohan Mustafa, Saqib Ali, Shadeep Silva, Shaimon Anwar, Shoaib Sarwar, Swapnil Patil, Vikrant Shetty and Zahid Shah.

Meanwhile, in the Bukhatir League, which is also being closely monitored by the selectors for outstanding performances, Afridi Cricket Club defeated Interface Transworld Cricket Club by eight wickets in Sharjah.

Brief scores:

Bukhatir league: Afridi CC bt Interface Transworld CC by eight wkts: Interface 149 in 33.3 overs (Sa'ad Aslam 43, Harsh Chaturvedi 34, Naveed Saleem 5 for 22, Sajid Ali 2 for 13) Afridi CC 151 for 5 in 12.2 overs (Abdul Shakoor 71, Shehzad Manna 34; Anil Adnani 3 for 29). Man of the match: Naveed Saleem.