UAE’s Under 19 batsmen put up good show in matching Pakistan

Big stage fright later, the batsmen for the host side do well to come close to their big target in the opening game.

UAE team celebrates the dismissal of Sami Aslam of Pakistan at the Zayed Cricket Stadium. Satish Kumar / The National

ABU DHABI // It took them a while, precisely 10 overs, and some choice words from coach Aaqib Javed for the rising UAE stars to realise their level of competency.

The UAE crawled to 10 runs in 10 overs before putting up with an impressive 227 for eight in reply to the Pakistan’s 253 for seven in the opening match of the Under 19 tri-series at the Zayed Cricket Stadium yesterday.

“I have given them a lot of freedom but sometimes you need to fix problems at the time it need fixing,” Aaqib said when asked what message he sent across to the two openers.

Shivank Vijaykumar (51) and Chirag Suri (35) added 70 in the next nine overs to set the platform for the UAE with an 80-run stand for the first wicket.

“They have worked really hard and I can say they are at any U19 international standard,” Aaqib said. “They have now started to believe in themselves and realise they are not any lesser than any team.”

The UAE bowlers did well to keep Pakistan just above four per over, barring the second last over from Rohit Singh Jamwal which went for 21, boosting their total.

“When it is a 9am start on a cold morning the confidence is less,” Aaqib said on their decision to field first. “I thought the ball will also do something, and it did. We wanted to take that early advantage of bowling first, and it worked for us.”

“I am really happy the way they handled the situation. We are on the right track and it is a big boost for the UAE cricket. I am very optimistic they can achieve good results.”

Pakistan were cautious after losing opener Irfan Butt (13) in the sixth over. Sami Aslam (56) and Inam ul Haq (60) added 81 for the second wicket in 21 overs, and Hussain Talat stroked a breezy 47 off 42 balls.

Ali Zia, the Pakistan team manager, was full of praise for the UAE’s gutsy performance.

“The UAE played maximum of their abilities,” he said. “I am really impressed by their performance today. They stuck to their task of playing the full 50 overs without being all out.

“That’s a very good sign for the UAE and they are really on a path of good development.

“The standard-wise the difference between the two teams is massive. The Pakistan team players are semi-professionals as compared to the amateur players from the UAE.

“I think we didn’t play to our true potential. Our players were not sharp on the field and didn’t maintain a good line and length in their bowling. But this was a good lesson for them to pull up their shocks and come back harder for the next games.”

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