Chirag Suri excited by UAE's chance to enter cricket's 'big time'

Opener wants to make the nation proud in the unprecedented opportunities for the nation's top players

UAE's Chirag Suri takes a catch off Basil Hameed's bowling in the Tri-Nations Series match against Scotland at Mannofield Park, Aberdeen, on August 14, 2022. All pictures courtesy Ian Jacobs/Cricket Scotland

The UAE's Aryan Lakra takes on a short ball from Scotland fast bowler Chris Sole.

CP Rizwan was stumped by Matthew Cross off the bowling of Mark Watt.

Scotland's Mark Watt has his leg stump uprooted by UAE pace bowler Zahoor Khan.

Left-arm spinner Mark Watt was outstanding with the ball for Scotland again.

Calum MacLeod took a brilliant slip catch to dismiss Rohan Mustafa off Mark Watt's bowling.

Kashif Daud returned figures of one for 13 as the UAE started brightly against Scotland.

Kashif Daud was hit for six off the second ball he bowled - and took a wicket with his third.

Kashif Daud celebrates after taking the wicket of Craig Wallace.

Junaid Siddique appeals for a caught behind dismissal off Kyle Coetzer.

Scotland's Kyle Coetzer is bowled by Junaid Siddique for a disappointing 10 runs.

Scotland captain Matthew Cross and UAE skipper Ahmed Raza shake hands before the match.

Aryan Lakra caught Chris Greaves off Ahmed Raza's bowling.

Muhammad Waseem high-fives captain Ahmed Raza after catching Scotland batter Michael Leask.

Matthew Cross top scored for Scotland with 85, at the ground where he first started out in cricket.

Scotland wicketkeeper Matthew Cross with tournament referee David Jukes and UAE captain Ahmed Raza.

Chirag Suri says the UAE’s players want to make the country proud when they enter into cricket’s “big time” over the coming months.

The national team are set for arguably the most exciting season in the country’s cricket history.

First they are in Muscat for a four-team qualifying tournament, where they will play Kuwait, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

The leading team in that T20 series will then face matches against the giants of India, in Dubai, and Pakistan, in Sharjah, at the Asia Cup.

The Asia Cup itself is a precursor to the T20 World Cup. The national team will head to Geelong for opening round matches at that event, where they will play Sri Lanka, Netherlands and Namibia.

And, for the first time, the country’s leading players will get to play in a home T20 league alongside the gilded stars of the world game, when the International League T20 launches in January.

“For UAE cricket, this is a big time,” said Suri, the national team opener.

“Without doubt, everybody knows this is what we have been waiting for, for the past five or six years.

“There are opportunities for all the guys and it is about peaking at the right time. That is what the guys want to do.

“We want to put up some performances we can be proud of.”

Suri was the leading run-scorer when the UAE won their place at the Asia Cup qualifier, at a regional tournament in Muscat way back in 2020.

UAE qualify for T20 World Cup - in pictures

That was the last tournament they played before Covid caused widespread disruption to the sport, including the postponement of the Asia Cup.

Muscat has provided happy memories for the national team since the sport returned, too.

It was there where they sealed progress to the T20 World Cup earlier this year.

“Since we had the qualifier for this back in 2020, we have pretty much won every series in Muscat so far,” Suri said.

“It is a good feeling heading back to Muscat. We have good memories from there, guys have played well there, but we still have to step up.

“We know there are certain things we have to work on individually, and as a team as well.”

Suri is hopeful that the good vibes created by returning to Al Amerat will help lift spirits after a difficult time in Scotland in the 50-over format.

The national team lost three Cricket World Cup League 2 fixtures against Scotland and United States in Aberdeen last week, then saw the last abandoned due to rain.

It meant they have become embroiled in a battle for third place in that competition with the USA and Namibia, when they had harboured hopes of pushing for top spot.

The tour did provide a couple of shoots of optimism, notably with the promising debuts of Aryan Lakra and Sabir Ali.

“These have been different conditions,” Suri said of the challenges faced in Scotland.

“We have been consistent in [ODI cricket] as well, but not so much away from home as in conditions that are familiar to us.

“We would have liked to have won a few games to take that confidence into the Asia Cup qualifiers, but that has not happened.

“We have to take whatever we can from this. New guys have come in, Aryan did well, and a couple of the bowlers did well.

“You have to take the positives and keep moving forward. These have been a couple of bad games but we are still a very good side. I strong believe in this side going forward.”

Asia Cup Qualifier, Muscat

UAE fixtures

Sunday 21 August, UAE v Kuwait

Monday 22 August, UAE v Singapore

Wed 23 August, UAE v Hong Kong