Aayan Khan insists his UAE side can cause another upset in the Under-19 Asia Cup after clinching a semi-final place against Pakistan.
The home team will meet the form side in the competition when the sides meet at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Friday.
Pakistan were irresistible in the pool phase, beating Nepal by seven wickets, India by eight, and Afghanistan by 83 runs.
The UAE went through in second place in the other pool after beating Japan on Wednesday. They were helped on the adjacent field by Bangladesh, who eased to a win against Sri Lanka. UAE had beaten the islanders last time out.
Aayan, the UAE captain, was the player of the match for the second time in the space of three days.
He hit 67 not out in 41 balls to help the national team reach 320-7 in their 50 overs. Dhruv Parashar and Maroof Merchant also hit half centuries.
Koji Abe made Japan’s first half century of the tournament, as they made 213-4 in reply.
Pakistan will represent a tougher challenge than anything the UAE have faced so far in the competition, but Aayan says his side are up for the test.
“They are a strong team, we know that, but anything can happen,” Aayan said.
“We know how good we are because we have also beaten a strong team in our pool. Our level has been high, but Pakistan have been doing well so it will be a nice game.
“We have been working hard and planning with a view to winning that game, Inshallah.”
Pakistan have a formidable batting line up, and will also pose a threat with the ball which the UAE players are not used to facing.
Mohammed Zeeshan is a towering fast bowler who took six wickets in Pakistan’s win over Nepal, then four against India.
Aayan says it will not be easy for the home team batters, but says they remain confident.
“He was there a year ago and I remember that because I hit him for a big six over third man,” Aayan said of the threat posed by Zeeshan.
“He is back again, and clearly improved as well. We see him as a challenge, but they also have four or five other nice fast bowlers who are hard to play on this type of turf.
“But we have been playing here for two or three years. All the team and staff are happy because we have been working for this.
“It is nice that we have beaten a strong team and we are going to the top four in the Asia Cup, which has never happened before [for the UAE].”
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Emiratisation at work
Emiratisation was introduced in the UAE more than 10 years ago
It aims to boost the number of citizens in the workforce particularly in the private sector.
Growing the number of Emiratis in the workplace will help the UAE reduce dependence on overseas workers
The Cabinet in December last year, approved a national fund for Emirati jobseekers and guaranteed citizens working in the private sector a comparable pension
President Sheikh Khalifa has described Emiratisation as “a true measure for success”.
During the UAE’s 48th National Day, Sheikh Khalifa named education, entrepreneurship, Emiratisation and space travel among cornerstones of national development
More than 80 per cent of Emiratis work in the federal or local government as per 2017 statistics
The Emiratisation programme includes the creation of 20,000 new jobs for UAE citizens
UAE citizens will be given priority in managerial positions in the government sphere
The purpose is to raise the contribution of UAE nationals in the job market and create a diverse workforce of citizens
'The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting up a Generation for Failure'
Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, Penguin Randomhouse
The National photo project
Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
