Al Saffar's long wait comes to an end

It has been a long journey for Saeed Al Saffar. From being a non-playing vice captain‚ in the 1996 World Cup to leading the UAE to their second major tournament - Asia Cup - in six years.

Through this four-year voyage, Al Saffar has set quite a few personal milestones but the "thrilling experience" of taking the UAE to the Asia Cup with the elite of the region was quite overwhelming.

The smart banker was lost for words when being interviewed on television after the UAE's victory over Malaysia in the ACC Trophy semifinal. "I have waited for this moment since 1996, so obviously I was excited," Al Saffar told GN.

Al Saffar was appointed the vice captain of the UAE team for the 1996 World Cup under Sultan Zarawani's captaincy. That team was packed with experienced expatriate players hence Al Saffar had to burn the reserve bench for most of the matches. But the team manager Abdurazzak Kazim pushed his case and Al Saffar made his debut for UAE against Holland.

It was not a match Al Saffar would like to forget. Like all bad things that he doesn't want to remember. "What happened during the World Cup is history," he said.

Sultan Zarawani quit in disgust after the 1996 World Cup. This proved to be a blessing in disguise for Al Saffar, who was given the reins of captaincy. He has not looked back since then.

Today , Al Saffar is not a captain just because he is a UAE national. He has let his cricket do the talking while quite unassumingly leading the side in local as well as international tournaments.

Al Saffar was justifiably hurt when his double hundred against Thailand in the ACC Trophy was not given enough importance at home. He never complained but when asked said: "I felt that I didn't get my due after having scored a double century in a one-day game." But in the very next breath he added: "I suppose this is part of the game, one has to get on with job."

He began this ACC tournament with a match-saving all round performance when the UAE were struggling against Nepal. Success could have easily gone to Al Saffar's head but, while talking about the team's performance in the tournament so far, he reeled off names in praise but refrained from glorifying his own role.

Al Saffar also made a point to talk about team coach Naved Anjum's role. "His contribution has been significant, he has inculcated self-belief in boys, has taught important aspects of the game and importantly has forged a spirited unit," he said.

Saffar admitted that the UAE qualifying for the Asia Cup was a highly emotional moment for him. "I have waited for this moment since 1996 when we lost the final to Bangladesh," he said.

The high point of his life came when Kashif Khan smacked a winning boundary against Malaysia, signalling UAE's qualification for the Asia Cup. His next mission is to make a positive impression in the Asia Cup.