First-timers UAE seek further progress

Overview

The World T20 is UAE's return to big time cricket after 18 years, and although they have had to continue on the back of semi-professional cricketers, they have been pulling their weight in Associates cricket over the last 12 months.

They were the fourth team to qualify for the World T20 in last November's qualifier in the UAE, after losing to Nepal in the third/fourth place playoff. They have also qualified for the 2015 World Cup after finishing runners-up in the qualification tournament in New Zealand earlier this year.

It has been a successful turnaround under Aaqib Javed who joined in April 2012 and vowed to ensure qualification in the Under-19, T20 and 50-over World Cups. He has delivered on all three fronts through a combination of diligent fitness and training planning plus the commitment from the players.

UAE's batsmen have the ability to put pressure on good bowling attacks, but at times they need to curb their strokeplay. This all-out aggression with the bat is possibly their approach. They seem to bat around one or two of the senior batsmen, ensuring the run-rate is always up.

Success for the UAE team will be the perfect dose ahead of a more important tournament, the ODI World Cup, less than 12 months away. That could be the pinnacle, after which UAE hope to usher in a more professional era. The World T20 could be the start for those back home to realise that UAE can be viable in cricket.

Key players

Khurram Khan was UAE's highest scorer in both qualifying tournaments, World Cup and World T20. He is the team's best batsman and will be expected to hold the key to their batting push. He is a left-hander and is likely to be comfortable on the Bangladesh pitches that he has claimed to be similar to the ones in the UAE.

Surprise package

Eighteen-year-old Moaaz Qazi is the youngest player in the UAE team. An off-break bowler, Qazi featured in the recent Under-19 World Cup played in UAE. He took eight wickets in six matches in the tournament. The bowler could have a surprise value, so he might be given a go in the three first-round matches.

Weakness

Apart from the inexperience, UAE have the tendency to be over-aggressive with their batting. They will need to find the right balance against tougher competition.

World T20 history

This is UAE's first appearance in World T20s, having ended up fourth in the qualification tournament.

Recent form

Although UAE lost their last two Twenty20 games, they have won eight of their last 13, which means they are getting a grasp of the format. Earlier this month, they beat Hong Kong in a practice game in the UAE too.