UAE to begin Twenty20 qualifier campaign against Kenya

Dubai: The UAE start their campaign in the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 qualifiers Tuesday by taking on the experienced Kenya team at the Abu Dhabi Shaikh Zayed Cricket stadium.

The five-day qualifiers will take off with Scotland meeting USA at 10am in Abu Dhabi followed by Ireland-Afghanistan match at the Dubai Sports City cricket stadium from 12pm. After the UAE-Kenya match at 2pm, Netherlands will clash against Canada in Dubai from 4pm.

"It is wonderful to have eight countries playing here to clinch the two slots in the ICC World Twenty20 Cup to be held in West Indies coming April-May. I appreciate the ICC's decision to host this event here which is great for our profile and development of cricket in the region," Dilawar Mani, Chief Executive of the Emirates Cricket Board told Gulf News at the Shaikh Zayed Stadium Monday "The facilities are in place and we have already staged some good practice matches for the teams," added Mani.

Injuries

Much will depend on their skipper Khurram Khan as UAE have encountered a huge setback with Amjad Javed, their hardest hitting batsman and all-rounder, and experienced Mohammad Tauqir being forced out of action due to injuries. The hosts also lost a warm-up match against USA in Abu Dhabi on Sunday by one wicket. UAE could muster only 141 runs with their most experienced and star batsman Saqib Ali top scoring with 47 runs. Their bowling failed to rise to the challenge as USA sailed past the target with four balls to spare through an unbeaten 57 from No 8 batsman Timroy Allen.

UAE team coach Colin Wells is hopeful of a good show based on his team performance in recent tournaments. "We are in excellent form. We were runners up to Afghanistan at the Asian Cricket Council Twenty20 Cup in November and we also had a clean sweep tour to Namibia winning the ICC Intercontinental Shield match and two One-dayers. We also scored some good victories over Uganda. We will have to be at our best to do well," said Wells.

A large number of cricket fans from Ireland and Afghanistan are expected to turn up for their country's match in Dubai. Though Ireland are being talked about as the favourites, Afghanistan are the most feared team. They have some fine players play in Pakistan's domestic cricket and their coach Kabir Khan has instilled a lot of confidence in his players. Ireland skipper Trent Johnson, commenting on his team's chances, said: "I think it will be a great achievement to qualify."

Schedule

February 9:

Scotland v USA (1000-1300), Abu Dhabi.
Ireland v Afghanistan (1200-1500), Dubai.
Kenya v UAE (1400-1700), Abu Dhabi.
Netherlands v Canada (1600-1900), Dubai.

February 10:

Afghanistan v Scotland (1000-1300), Abu Dhabi.
Canada v Kenya (1200-1500), Dubai.\
USA v Ireland (1400-1700), Abu Dhabi.
UAE v Netherlands (1600-1900), Dubai.

February 11:

UAE v Canada (1000-1300), Abu Dhabi.
Afghanistan v USA (1200-1500), Dubai.
Netherlands v Kenya (1400-1700), Abu Dhabi.
Ireland v Scotland (1600-1900), Dubai.

February 12: (Super Fours)

A1 v B2 (1200-1500), Dubai.
B1 v A2 (1600-1900), Dubai.

February 13:

B1 v A1 (1200-1600), Dubai.
B2 v A2 (1600-1900), Dubai.
Final (2000-2300), Dubai.