Youth duo hope to shine in the big league

Dubai: The UAE have begun the process of building a team for the future by including two under-19 cricketers in the World Twenty20 team after their exploits in the youth team.

Rohit Singh, a promising all-rounder and captain of the UAE Under-19 team, and Moaaz Ayub Qazi, a wily off-spinner and hard-hitting batsman and also a member the UAE colts team, have been drafted to showcase their talents in the big-man world.

Speaking to Gulf News, Singh said: “It will be a huge experience for me to be part of the UAE team and in a contest as big as the World Cup.”

Qazi too expressed his joy at being selected for the Twenty20 World Cup. “It is a special feeling to be selected. I had learned a lot from the Under-19 World Cup and by being part of the World Cup Twenty20 squad, I will learn a lot more.”

Singh had played knocks of 41 against Sri Lanka and also hit 30 against Zimbabwe in the Under-19 matches, while Qazi had produced two three-wicket spells against Zimbabwe.

Singh shot to prominence through his performances in schools cricket representing Delhi Private School and is now a student of Heriot Watt University. “I want to improve a lot more. I try to strengthen all aspects of my game, not only by playing but also watching top players,” said Singh, who idolises Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli and A.B. De Villiers.

Qazi too had produced sterling performances in schools cricket for Cambridge High School in Abu Dhabi. “I too want to strengthen my bowling and add more tricks to my bowling,” said Qazi, who is the son of Qazi Ayub, a top-performer in UAE’s domestic circuit and is the head coach of the Abu Dhabi-based MCC Zayed Cricket Academy.

Qazi had represented Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Blues and Greens teams. Three years ago he produced figures of 4-0-6-5 for ECB Blues against Robt Stone in Al Aqili Ramadan Twenty20 Cup.