Arshad Ali to lead UAE in ICC tournament

Arshad Ali, who has been the UAE's most consistent batsman for nearly five years, has been appointed captain of the UAE cricket team for the ICC Intercontinental Cup.

"It is a great honour to be asked to lead UAE in the Intercontinental Cup. I have always given my best as a player and I will do the same as the captain too and strive to get the best out of my team," remarked Arshad to Gulf News.

Arshad will lead the UAE in the semifinals against Ireland at Windhoek from October 23 to 25.

"It is an important match for us and we will go all out for a victory," added Arshad, who has hit nine centuries for UAE.

The UAE team qualified for the semifinals after topping the Asian group comprising Nepal and Hong Kong.

In their first match of this tournament from April 24 to 26 in Sharjah, the UAE defeated Hong Kong by seven wickets.

Though UAE lost their next match to Nepal by 172 runs at Khatmandu on May 9, the UAE still topped their group, accumulating 41 points to Nepal's 40.5 points.

Hong Kong finished third with only 18 points.

In the other semifinal Bermuda will take on Kenya.

The final is scheduled to be played from October 27 to 29.

This tournament is contested by associate member countries from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. It gives the players exposure to the longer version of the game. These matches have first-class status.

The UAE team will leave for Namibia on October 20. Interestingly, this team is being coached and managed by chief selector Abdul Razzaq Kazim.

The team: Arshad Ali (captain), V. Sockalingam (vice-captain), Ali Asad Abbas, Fahad Usman, Rizwan Ahmad, Sameer Zia, Mohammad Taskeen, Usman Saleem, Rameez Shahzad, Kashif Ahmad, Marlon Fernando, Imran Ali, Fahad Afghal Al Hashmi (UAE national). Officials: Abdul Razzaq Kazim (coach/manager), C. Sudhaker (Physio), Shah Hussain (assistant).