UAE eyes 2015 World Cup

The UAE cricket team have set their sights on qualifying for the 2015 World Cup after failing by a whisker on the last two occasions, according to a top official of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB).

“Our main aim and plan is to look forward to the 2015 World Cup. The qualifier is to be held in 2013. That is where our whole concentration is,” said Mazhar Khan in an exclusive interview with Emirates 24|7.

“We missed out twice. Last time we came seventh when we should have got to fourth position. Before that we again came sixth or seventh, losing out by a whisker,” he said.

“For the past 10 years we have been just there between 16 and 17. We have not gone down, but we should have improved by now.”

“They are not fulltime professionals. Because of their commitment and love for the game we are getting there. It’s a big contribution from the boys also for being there because they are not on our payrolls. We don’t pay them like Ireland and Scotland do. That way we appreciate the amount of effort the boys put in just for the love of game. Then again we travel a lot and they have to make sure they have enough holidays to go by,” he said.

Khan is optimistic the UAE have a bright future with a new crop of players emerging.

“We have some very good players now. Youngsters are also coming up. No doubt the seniors are getting old, but then again they have contributed a lot to our cricket. Hopefully, come 2013, we may have a few youngsters taking over the mantle from the present seniors. There are some good fast bowlers that have come down the pipeline,” he said.
 
Asked whether Emiratis were adapting to the sport, Khan pointed out that they already have three UAE nationals who perform at the highest level.

“We have Mohammed Tauqeer, Fahad Al Hashmi and Salman Farooq who are already part of this core team. Some of them are really good and they can compete with anybody. Plus we are looking for more to come through the junior plan,” he said.

The ECB administrator was also hopeful of improving on their international ranking of 17.

“We are seventh among the associated members. If we had been sixth we would have been in ODI [one-day international] status, but unfortunately we missed out. But we are still part of the ICC’s High Performance group, which is the top eight associate members. That is why we play Intercontinental tournaments and we are very much there,” he said.

The UAE have to finish among the top six to feature in the ICC Intercontinental Cup competition.

“We should have been playing the Cup, but just because we finished seventh we are in Shield. That also will rate us on how we are going to be placed in our world rankings,” Khan explained.

The UAE will be featuring in the final of the second tier ICC Intercontinental Shield final in November and also host the World Cricket League [WCL] Division Two competition next year.

“That is being confirmed now. The UAE will be hosting the six-country event from April 8 to 16. It’s a good advantage for us being a home side. The matches are being planned at the ICC’s Global Cricket Academy. Matches are expected to be played there and hopefully here at the Dubai Sports City,” said Khan.
 
In addition to planning a tour of Kenya and Zimbabwe, the Emirates board is also expecting Afghanistan to come here.

“They [Kenya] are very keen that we come there because they also want to prepare for the WCL. We are also expecting Afghanistan to come here. We are trying to work out a triangular event in the UAE with Afghanistan to help them in their preparation for the World Cup,” he said.

On the appointment of a coach to replace Collin Wells, he said they have sought ICC help to find a suitable replacement.

“Being an ex-Sussex and England Test player he was quite good and gelling well with the boys. But it so happens that everyone moves to greener pastures,” he said.

Asked whether they were looking for a long-term appointment, Khan said they are keeping their options open.

“Normally coaches look to see how things are in the first year. They would like to see if they are in the comfort zone. We are open and we would like to continue with them. Collin was a surprise and we thought we will extend, but he got a better deal,” he said.

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