Mass unavailability will test UAE resources at ICC Intercontinental Cup finals

The prospects for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the finals of the ICC Intercontinental Cup, which start in Windhoek, Namibia on 23 October, appear to depend on their ability to come to terms with mass player unavailability.

Only four of the players that took part in the UAE's match against Ireland in July's ICC Trophy are in the squad for this rematch and that means they are likely to face an uphill task in their semi-final of the first-class tournament for non-Test playing countries.

"Some of the players have been away for two months already this year preparing for and playing in the ICC Trophy and other matches and that may be one reason why they are not playing now," said Mazhar Khan, Administrator of the Emirates Cricket Board.

"Some players have already taken up to 65 or 70 days' leave this year and with jobs of work they cannot afford any more time off."

One of the key absentees for the UAE is likely to be Khurram Khan, the all-rounder who played such a key role in getting the side to Namibia in the first place.

Khurram took five wickets and scored two fifties in the low-scoring victory over Hong Kong in April and even though the side then lost to Nepal in Kathmandu they earned just enough bonus points to finish top of the Asia qualifying group.

One man who will be in Namibia is opening batsman and captain Arshad Ali and his ability to score heavily will be crucial in determining whether the UAE can be competitive.

Arshad was the side's leading run-scorer in the 2004 ICC Intercontinental Cup and also heads their run-scoring charts this time around with 147 runs from two matches, including 81 not out, carrying his bat, in that match against Nepal.

If Arshad carries the batting hopes then the same could be said of Ali Asad when it comes to the bowling line-up.

The medium-pacer was the leading wicket-taker out of all the sides taking part in the 2004 ICC Intercontinental Cup with 24 wickets at 15.95 and much depends on him this time around to shoulder the bowling burden.

Realistically it will need more than just the efforts of Arshad Ali and Ali Asad if the UAE are to go one step further than last year, when they missed out on a place in the final after suffering a losing semi-final draw against Canada.

The batting line-up does have players who can score heavily. Fahad Usman has a first-class hundred to his credit and Kashif Ahmed, 29, boasts a first-class career of 37 matches stretching back to 1995/96 in his native Pakistan. There is also the exciting potential of 17 year-old Rameez Shahzad.

The bowling stocks include the UAE's one locally-born product in the squad, fast bowler Fahad Alhashmi, and Vairamoorthy Sockalingam will also offer seam bowling options. Usman Saleem, who just missed out on selection for the ICC Trophy in Ireland, steps in to fill Khurram Khan's shoes as an all-rounder.

The slow-bowling will probably come from off-spinner Sameer Zia and left-armer Rizwan Latif. Both men played in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in 2004 with Rizwan dismissing Saurav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid in the match against India.

That match between the UAE and Ireland in the ICC Trophy in July was one of the matches of that tournament.

Khurram Khan (53) and Javed Ismail (56) - another player missing here - helped the UAE to 230 and Ireland won by two wickets in the final over thanks to Ed Joyce (115 not out) and Trent Johnston (67) after Ali Asad reduced them to 23-4.

"Ireland is a good side," said Mazhar Khan. "They have qualified for the World Cup, are looking to move forward as a team and could easily go on to win the ICC Intercontinental Cup.

"They are favourites for our match but it is all about whether we can perform on the three days."

Captain Arshad Ali added: "This event gives us an opportunity to test our skills with better sides and thus it is very important to us.

"Ireland is a good side but we will try to put up a good show."

1. Arshad Ali (captain)
2. Muhammad Taskeen
3. Imran Ali
4. Rameez Shahzad
5. Kashif Ahmed
6. Vairamoorthy Sockalingam
7. Sameer Zia
8. Ali Asad Abbas
9. Rizwan Ahmed
10. Fahad Alhashmi
11. Usman Saleem
12. Marlon Fernando
13. Fahad Usman
Manager / coach - Abdul Razzaq Abdulla Kazim
Physio - Sudhama alias Sudhaker Chitrala
Assistant - Shah Hussain

24 - 26 April, Sharjah: UAE 127 (Khurram Khan 56, Ilyas Gul 5-16) & 185-3 (Khurram Khan 55*, Syed Maqsood 51*) beat Hong Kong 127 & 184 by seven wickets.

7 - 9 May, Kathmandu: Nepal 287-7 declared (Vesawkar 89, Gauchan 68) & 125-6 declared beat UAE 164 (Arshad Ali 81*) & 76 (Das 5-27) by 172 runs.

The other semi-final pits the winners of the Americas group, Bermuda, against the Africa group winners, Kenya, on the same dates (23 - 25 October), with the final taking place from 27 - 29 October.

There will be a new name on the ICC Intercontinental Cup this year following Scotland's success in the inaugural Event, in 2004, when they defeated Canada in the final.

Throughout the build-up to the 2005 finals week, the ICC's corporate affairs department will be issuing information on the other semi-finalists and further details of the ICC Intercontinental Cup.

Further details of this year's ICC Inter-Continental Cup, including previous media releases, can be found here