The decision to appoint former Pakistani cricketer Mudassar Nazar as batting coach for the UAE with the 2015 World Cup in mind seems a fine choice on paper and the best utilisation of resources.
He has been in the UAE for some time in a role with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and knows a thing or two about domestic cricket.
The addition of the former all-rounder will complement national coach Aaqib Javed, who was a fast bowler. As if to underline Nazar’s different approach, the former opener said: “I used to love batting more than fielding.”
Nazar started his Test career in Australia and ended it in New Zealand. He also played in England, outside of the subcontinent.
His Test batting career average (38.09) was better than his average in the one-day format (25.26).
Against the World Cup host countries he averaged 20.57 in 21 ODIs, the last of which he played in March of 1989.
The UAE squad will leave for an acclimatisation trip to Australia on Sunday, but for many of the expatriates, who all have full-time jobs, it remains a tough task for them to give the time and focus they will need between this trip and the tournament.
There are no competitive games lined up against the cricketing elite, despite the ICC's best efforts to help Associate teams.
The absence of a professional set-up has been a perennial problem and priority should be given to addressing that ahead of UAE cricket’s biggest moment since they played in the 1996 World Cup.
UAE cricket failed to build on that appearance on the subcontinent but the opportunity must not be allowed to let slip this time.
Financial constraints should not be a hindrance or there will be many years again before the UAE can expect again to reach the games biggest stage.
Releasing the financial shackles may also have better served the team if they had attracted a coach with Australian or New Zealand experience to help with the batting.
Such an appointment would have provided someone who could impart knowledge on how to tackle the pace and bounce the team can expect at the World Cup and offer first-hand information on the type of pitches to expect during the tournament.
The rare show of initiative by Inidan cricket authorities to appoint Australian bowling great Glenn McGrath is the sort of path the UAE could have followed that would have provided great benefit.
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