Dubai: The UAE cricket team has set a lofty target next under the guidance of coach Aaqib Javed — that of playing Test cricket.
Speaking to Gulf News amid preparation for the ICC Intercontinental Cup tournament in Ireland at the ICC Cricket Academy, Javed said: “As soon as I took over as UAE team coach, we set three targets to achieve and that is to make it to three World Cups. We did it by qualifying to play for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup, the 50-overs Cricket World Cup and the ICC Under-19 World Cup. Now our next target is to do well in the four-day format of Intercontinental Cup and also once again qualify again for the T20 World Cup and put up a good show in the World Cricket League one-day matches.
“If we can do well in the Intercontinental Cup four-day cricket, the top team can get to play Test cricket against the lowest ranked full member nation. This is what we are targeting now.”
Javed knows that for the UAE to qualify to play Test cricket requires a huge effort. “To become a Test playing nation we somehow need to create an environment which is for the longer version here. Ireland and Scottish players play in County cricket which is proper four-day first class cricket. This is something that we lack here.
“Eighty per cent of the tournament’s format in the UAE is T20. If you want to really improve our cricket we need to somehow introduce longer version, maybe starting with two-day games and leading to three-day events, otherwise our standard will remain good only in T20 and 50-over versions only.”
Javed believes that playing in longer versions is important to even become good Twenty20 and 50 over players. “By playing in longer version matches, one can build a good base. To survive in four-day matches, one should have a good technique and temperament — this is one aspect that is missing here. Soon we must implement a few two-day cricket matches. Danube recently hosted a two-day tournament but that was confined to only a few teams.
“If we can arrange longer version tournaments for eight to ten teams, then it will be beneficial for the UAE team, especially if the top 20 UAE players get to play in this tournament,” added Javed.
Although UAE players haven’t played in longer version matches recently, Javed is still confident that the squad, which has been selected for the Intercontinental Cup, can compete strongly against Ireland.
“Ireland will be a strong team in Ireland and so we are working very hard. I am trying to get the best team. We have experienced players like Saqib Ali who is back in the squad. Asif Iqbal, who has just qualified to play for the UAE is a very experienced player. He has been the most consistent batsman in the UAE for the last few months. With Shaiman Anwar in good touch and with Khurram Khan, Amjad Ali, Swapnil Patil and Ahmad Raza we have a good team.”
The UAE will play Ireland in the first round of the Intercontinental Cup from June 2-5. Prior to reaching Ireland, the UAE will play a three-day game against Scotland from May 26-28 at The Ageas Bowl (formerly The Rose Bowl) in Hampshire.
