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Captain Ahmed Raza during the ICC Mens T20 World cup qualifier warm up game between against Scotland in October. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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Ahmed Raza, left, was elevated to UAE captain by coach Dougie Brown. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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Karnataka Tuskers' Ahmed Raza bowls during the game against Bangla Tigers in the Abu Dhabi T10 league. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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Captain Ahmed Raza top-scored for UAE in their total of 80-9 against the Netherlands in their T20 World Cup qualifier in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
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Ahmed Raza bowling during the World Cup T20 qualifiers against Nigeria. Pawan Singh / The National
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Ahmed Raza, right, was been asked to lead the UAE in a difficult period. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N7QKE5GEDJ47OU25M4674JQTSA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d5b904427f2dc3c69872f948e2f32933c6fa771af8c3ac9c47aba422bf12d80e&width=400&height=225)
Captain Ahmed Raza during the ICC Mens T20 World cup qualifier warm up game between against Scotland in October. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ABNZ44TZO6SY47YO6PYRTOT6J4.jpg?smart=true&auth=4e5dadec0f66ea5b98b20d7e849c6f56c62e487b23790f96efc69e2ef0188ab5&width=400&height=225)
Ahmed Raza, left, was elevated to UAE captain by coach Dougie Brown. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2L3X6IFU4IR6LBUSC6QBDNHIDY.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab8b3c0ea582ae083a9ab1a510581b28e0dde5d8f383c50e6a3b6a815562cd4f&width=400&height=225)
Karnataka Tuskers' Ahmed Raza bowls during the game against Bangla Tigers in the Abu Dhabi T10 league. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M6XVBDVC6ZNPVZL2Y3NYBWH7KI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9a9e089eb08e524f94e92479700e83f164c3486497922aad393e3f867f434bcb&width=400&height=225)
Captain Ahmed Raza top-scored for UAE in their total of 80-9 against the Netherlands in their T20 World Cup qualifier in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ET7TW3TDEFENHKIWV4XYK72BNY.jpg?smart=true&auth=44004d9e550769b1550d63da246f3c3dd3b44f154aafc1e147261fe05cc3748f&width=400&height=225)
Ahmed Raza bowling during the World Cup T20 qualifiers against Nigeria. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6JUR2N25FT7FTYTPH7YTU5BJ34.jpg?smart=true&auth=40408b4fd717c15beeaac72f0f33cd04fc75b4a67fe070520a4b1ee3aed0bc17&width=400&height=225)
Ahmed Raza, right, was been asked to lead the UAE in a difficult period. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N7QKE5GEDJ47OU25M4674JQTSA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d5b904427f2dc3c69872f948e2f32933c6fa771af8c3ac9c47aba422bf12d80e&width=400&height=225)
Captain Ahmed Raza during the ICC Mens T20 World cup qualifier warm up game between against Scotland in October. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Ahmed Raza: 'I’ve never played a UAE game without calling my mother'
UAE captain's ritual stands after 16 years in international cricket
![Paul Radley](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F4bea718a-3833-459d-b22e-394141107aed.png?smart=true&auth=9b0d25df28459c73830f10d00934933c01a577dee63bf7a45b39f23e0bdb9f75&width=70&height=70)
Paul Radley
21 March, 2020
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