The UAE announced their squad on Wednesday for the Intercontinental Cup fixture in Ireland. The first-round match, which will take place from June 2 to 5, is the national team's first assignment since they returned from the World Cup.
Tauqir’s renaissance
Mohammed Tauqir’s remarkable renaissance as an international cricketer will continue after he retained the captaincy. The winners of the tournament, which is four-day cricket, get to face the lowest-ranked full-member nation in the 2018 Test Challenge.
Long twilight
Tauqir, 43, made his return to international cricket at the World Cup after two years away, primarily so there was some Emirati talent in the side. It was not a temporary measure, though, and he is set to play on, having had his love for the game revived by the trip to Australia and New Zealand.
Dad’s Army
The World Cup was assumed to be the swansong for the core of veteran players who have been the backbone of the national team for the past decade. However, each of them has decided to shelve retirement plans, and each is in the squad to tour Ireland. Khurram Khan, who was replaced as captain by Tauqir, will play on at 43. Saqib Ali, who turned 37 last month, is restored to the squad having missed the World Cup, as is Mohammed Shahzad, who is 35.
Professional commitment
This is going to be the busiest year for the UAE’s players. Following on from the two months they set aside for the World Cup in February and March, the Intercontinental Cup tour to Ireland is preceded by a three-day friendly against Scotland in England. There are also World Cricket League matches against Kenya to follow, as well as the three-week World Twenty20 qualifier in July. It seems like a professional’s workload, so it is a wonder what their employers at their day jobs will make of it.
Test incentive
Nominally, there is the prize of playing Test cricket on offer for the winners of the Intercontinental Cup, with the side that wins the round-robin league playing the bottom-ranked Test team in 2018. “The ICC Intercontinental Cup is now the platform for emerging nations to fulfil their ambitions of playing Test cricket,” said David Richardson, the ICC chief executive.
The squad
Mohammed Tauqir (captain), Ahmed Raza, Amjad Ali, Amjad Javed, Asif Iqbal, Khurram Khan, Manjula Guruge, Mohammed Shahzad, Mohammed Naveed, Saqib Ali, Shaiman Anwar, Swapnil Patil, Chirag Suri, Fayyaz Ahmed
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