Test opposition not an option for UAE in preparation for cricket’s World Cup

Faizan Asif and his UAE teammates will not have a chance to test themselves against top-flight competition prior to the World Cup due to the crowded schedule the top Test teams are playing. Pawan SingShow more

DUBAI // The UAE will not play any fixtures against Test nations as part of their preparations for next year's World Cup.

Even though Australia, Pakistan and New Zealand will play series in the UAE this season, they have been unable to schedule in matches against the national team.

The UAE will have to make do with lead-up matches against nations from the next tier of the game, as well as Pakistan’s second string, ahead of their return to the global stage.

David East, the Emirates Cricket Board chief executive, said the national team’s prospects of facing the first XI from a Test nation before they depart for Australia and New Zealand were “not realistic”.

“The itineraries are such that it wasn’t going to be practical,” East said.

The national team qualified for the World Cup in a tournament in New Zealand this year, to mark a return to 50-over cricket’s top event for the first time since 1996.

Aaqib Javed, the national coach, is satisfied a series of matches against Afghanistan, Pakistan A and Ireland, will stand the UAE in good stead for the World Cup.

“Nowadays, with local leagues like the IPL and different formats, it does not allow time for teams to go and support associate teams,” Aaqib said.

“We tried hard. We asked Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Pakistan to give us a few games, but they are really tight with their schedules.

“But thanks to Pakistan we will play against their A team, and I highly recommend that. They will have good fast bowlers. If they have two or three good international bowlers in that team, I think that will help us solve our problems.”

The UAE will depart for a tour of Australia next week, when they will play six matches against state teams, as well as a fixture against Papua New Guinea, who also have full one-day international status.

On their return, they will have a series against the other nations who are part of the ICC’s high performance programme – Afghanistan, Ireland and Scotland. Fixtures are also planned against an XI made up of New Zealand’s leading limited-overs players.

The UAE will also benefit from being able to play on pitches that imitate Australian conditions, as part of a wide-ranging strategic partnership with the ICC Academy that was announced yesterday.

The academy grounds at Dubai Sports City include pitches that have been made with soil imported from Western Australia and Queensland.

“We look forward to playing an integral role in the continuing development of cricket in the UAE, not only in the short term but also way beyond the World Cup,” said Will Kitchen, the ICC Academy manager.

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