Asia Cup T20 2016 Preview: United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) surprised one and all as they made their way into the main draw of the Asia Cup T20 2016. Incidentally, the UAE hadn’t lost a single match in the qualifier. With wins over Oman, Hong Kong and Afghanistan, UAE has coasted their way into the main draw. However, the main draw will be a different ball game altogether. That said, here us how the UAE can pose a threat to the full-member nations.

Batting Strength

Most of the matches won in the qualifier can be put down to good batting performances. Opener Rohan Mustafa is certainly a threat with the bat. His 77 off 58 balls against Afghanistan remains to be the highest score by a UAE batsman in T20Is. Mohammed Shahzad ended the qualifier as UAE’s top run-getter with 111 runs in 3 matches. Muhammed Usman’s big hitting prowess also can prove to be useful on the dry tracks of Bangladesh. Usman has notched up 110 runs in 3 matches.

Bowling Strength

Right-arm medium pacer Mohammad Naveed is UAE’s best bowler by a country mile. Having bowled 12 overs the entire tournament, Naveed picked up 7 wickets at an economy rate of 4.75. He is supported by fellow right-arm pacer Ajmal Javed. The latter picked up 4 wickets in the 9 overs that he bowled in the tournament. Rohan Mustafa has proved that he can put up a useful performance with the ball courtesy of his four wickets in the qualifier.

Previous performance

The UAE have featured in the 2004 and the 2008 edition of the Asia Cup previously. They haven’t managed to win any of the 5 matches they have played in the Asia Cup before 2016.

Fixtures

25^th February 2016 – Sri Lanka v UAE, Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka

26^th February 2016 – Bangladesh v UAE, Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka

29^th February 2016 – Pakistan v UAE, Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka

Squad

Amjad Javed (C), Swapnil Patil (wk), Ahmed Raza, Fahad Tariq, Farhan Ahmed, Mohammad Naveed, Mohammad Shahzad, Mohammad Usman, Muhammad Kaleem, Qadeer Ahmed, Rohan Mustafa, Saqlain Haider, Shaiman Anwar, Usman Mushtaq, Zaheer Maqsood

How well is the Indian team poised for the Asia Cup? – Asia Cup T20 2016 Preview: India