SYLHET, BANGLADESH // UAE cricketers are not used to being watched. When the national team play home matches in Sharjah, the crowd normally consists of a couple of groundsmen, the stadium goat, some hens and few others.
How things change. Now all of a sudden they are about to be thrust, front and centre, into the limelight of the world’s most-watched cricket tournament.
If any of them were suffering from big-stage apprehension, they probably could have done without seeing Friday's press release from the International Cricket Council (ICC) about potential viewing figures.
“We are delighted that more than a quarter of the world’s population will have access to live coverage from the World Twenty20,” said David Richardson, the ICC chief executive.
“In addition to the expanded broadcast footprint, an enhanced production coverage and a world-class commentary team will provide for an excellent viewing experience for fans across the world.”
Potentially, 1.8 billion people have access to live, high-definition coverage – and with flashing LED lights on the stumps to let everyone know, in case they missed it, that you have just been bowled out. There is no hiding place from here on.
Aaqib Javed, the UAE coach, admits his players do get affected by the stress of playing in front of large audiences.
He says there is only one cure for it, though: experience.
"There were about 10,000 people there," Aaqib said of the UAE's warm-up match against the host nation Bangladesh in Mirpur last week.
“They are not used to big crowds like that, but they have experience of playing in front of lots of people from when we went to Nepal for the ACC Trophy. For that semi-final, there were about 15,000 people there.
“It really affects our performances and you can’t do anything about that without experience. It has been a good experience for the players.
“They are definitely not used to the conditions and the crowd, and sometimes it is really tough, but they are enjoying it.”
Of course, chance-to-see figures like these are a major boon for UAE cricket, which has always craved coverage.
The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) recently penned a sponsorship deal with the Dubai-based broadcasters OSN, too. Things are looking up.
And they have full one-day international status guaranteed for the next four years, and hope to get more chances at this level.
“The UAE team is now on a world-class stage,” said David East, the ECB chief executive. “They are competing against the best and demonstrating that we can go forward at this level. It was very encouraging that the under-19 team did the same as well on merit.
“That shows we have a good core of young cricketers there with which we can look to the future. That is very encouraging for us.
“We are demonstrating that the UAE is now a credible cricketing force and can play in these world competitions.
“Together with one-day international status, it gives us a great opportunity to build the game in the UAE.”
The sudden upwards mobility of the sport here has had a significant effect on the ethos of the players, according to Aaqib.
Where once the part-time life of a national-team cricketer seemed ultimately hopeless, now the players can see tangible fruits for their labours.
“This is my seventh or eighth World Cup, between being a player and a coach,” said Aaqib, who was a World Cup winner with Pakistan in 1992.
“I am used to it, in terms of the pressure. I was saying to myself the other day, ‘Oh, you have gone back to the old days, as it used to be’.
“It is a good boost. Now they are enjoying travelling in business class, there is increased media, security, everything, and it is very exciting for them.
“We are really appreciating their performances and their effort. They are committing more and more and working really hard.
“I never have to shout at them. They want to do the work.”
pradley@thenational.ae
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