Dubai: The UAE skipper Rohan Mustafa is confident that his team is strong enough to emerge winners in the Asia Cup 2018 Qualifier to be held in Malaysia from August 29 to September 6.
Waleed Bukhatir, the Emirates Cricket Board Member and Chief Selector announced the team with the hope that the UAE will be victorious and clinch the only slot in the 14th edition of the Asia Cup to be staged by UAE from September 15.
Speaking to Gulf News, Mustafa, who has led the team from the front in many recent tournaments, said: “Our team is very good. We have prepared very well for the challenge. We had very good practice and played two practice matches. We will also be playing two practices matches in Malaysia before the start of the tournament. So the team will be ready for the event.”
The UAE will compete against Malaysia, Hong Kong, Nepal, Oman, and Singapore for a place in the Asia Cup.
“Our team is confident of beating our opponents. To be honest we are very excited to play in this qualifier because the Asia Cup is to be held in the UAE and if we qualify we can get to play against the top teams like India and Pakistan. So we will try our best to win in Malaysia,” added Mustafa.
The qualifier will follow a 50-over format. The selectors have picked young left-arm spinner Rahul Bhatia, who played a pivotal role in the UAE emerging as Asia Under-19 Western Region champions in Malaysia in 2017 by bagging the best bowler award. Also in the squad is Fahad Nawaz, who had captained the UAE Under-19 team but was part of the UAE national team in the ICC World Twenty20 Asia region qualifier.
Bukhatir commenting on the team and their mission, said: “Securing our place to compete in the 2018 Asia Cup, which is being hosted on home-soil, is of the utmost importance. Our players and the coaching team have been exceptionally committed to their training throughout the summer, and we are confident they will put forward a winning performance and secure the remaining place (in the Asia Cup).”
Twenty-three-year-old Chirag Suri, who was picked for the Indian Premier League, is expected to open the innings. He is fresh from a knock of 80 against Kuwait in the ICC World Twenty20 Asia region qualifier.
Squad: Rohan Mustafa (C), Ashfaq Ahmad, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammad Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmad Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammad Naveed, Amir Hayat, Abdul Shakhoor, Rahul Bhatia, Fahad Nawaz, Zahoor Khan.
