Abu Dhabi: The UAE’s under-19 players will get their first taste of competitive cricket when they take on Pakistan in the first match of a tri-nations series also involving England at the Shaikh Zayed Stadium here on Saturday (9.30am).
Sri Lanka were supposed to be competing in the series, but financial constraints kept them out and so hosts UAE are filling in. Some 30 players took part in a preparatory camp at the ICC Global Cricket Academy in Dubai over the past three months and 18 of those were short-listed for this series. Aaqib Javed, who guiding the UAE senior team to the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh earlier this month, is also in-charge of the under-19s and he told Gulf News he is hopeful of his inexperienced side putting up a good show. “I think we worked really hard and the team looks fit. I’m very satisfied as far as the fielding is concerned. I think they will put some good effort on the field,” the former Pakistan star said. “We figured out that these are our 18 to 20 most talented boys. Sometimes, playing against each other, you come to know your own team’s strengths. First step as a player is to know your own game, your teammates and then the opposition. “You can say we are moving into the third stage. Now we have to look at the opposition. I already had a word with the boys that, when you play against England and Pakistan, play your own game. “Our target first has to be to play 50 overs. Just go around four [runs per over] and touch 200. I think we should perform reasonably well. We will be playing six matches towards getting ready for the Asia Cup and that is a great opportunity.” “The boys are not bad in technique but they did struggle against bounce initially. However, we made them play indoors and on synthetic pitches and they are quite used to it now. I think they are ready to take on good teams.” Pakistan enter the series — which will be held in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah until December 22 — as firm favourites after enjoying success in England earlier this year, winning a tri-series involving the hosts and Bangladesh. Pakistan team manager Ali Zia said: “Every game has to be played seriously. I understand there are very keen youngsters in the UAE who are ready to perform. They have a very good coach in Aaqib Javed, who has a lot of experience. “On paper, I believe we are much more stronger than the UAE, but they also have lots of expat players from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, who can do well.” – Gulfnews.com via Google
(pix of Dubai in media library)
