DHAKA // If the UAE are going to achieve the improbable, and claim a first scalp of a major cricket nation at this Asia Cup, they are going to have to do it the hard way.
Glorious opportunities against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have been passed up in successive nights in Dhaka.
Now all that is left are two matches against the giants from Pakistan and India next week. Good luck with that, lads.
Read more from Paul Radley:
UAE batsmen outclassed again at Asia Cup T20, this time by hosts Bangladesh
How different things might have been. It is worth pointing out the national team have overachieved by even reaching this stage at all.
The national team remains a developing side in its infancy, trying to compete with some of the most established countries in the sport.
Four thrilling wins put them on this stage far ahead of when they might realistically have expected to be back among the big boys.
And, now they are here, they have been doing half the job spectacularly - sometimes heroically - well.
For example, many of Bangladesh’s supporters have fallen in love with Mohammed Naveed, the UAE’s leading bowler, and a few of his colleagues besides. A fair chunk of the TV audience for the Asia Cup probably have, too.
In 40 overs between matches against the defending world champions in this format and then the host nation, the UAE gave up just 262 runs with the ball.
They have been startlingly thrifty. The problem lies in the fact they have been poor with the bat in reply.
The way their batsmen have faltered since the end of the qualifying round may show up a few glaring inefficiencies, but that tends to happen when the limelight is at its harshest.
If any of the batsmen have felt any shame at the way their inadequacies have been shown up against the bowlers of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in successive 14- and 51-run losses, they need not.
As Aaqib Javed pointed out when they were in this country for the World Twenty20 two years ago, television can provide an ideal learning tool. So long as the lessons are learnt.
That is all Amjad Javed, the team’s captain, is demanding. “Playing against experienced bowlers is a bit tough for a team like UAE,” Amjad said after Friday night’s loss to Bangladesh.
“We will learn some things from this tournament. We will go back, try to fix our batting problems, then come back again.
“The conditions are similar to what we play in in Dubai, but I think the quality of the bowlers and opposition is a bit different.”
Given the UAE have played three of the four most recent matches to be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, they might feel a share on this ground by now.
They will be evicted today, though, when the small matter of India against Pakistan takes place here. The biggest fixture in the sport. It is an indicator of just what level the national team are being asked to operate at.
“India and Pakistan are the big Asian tigers and playing against them will be another learning point for us,” Amjad said.
“We will be trying to give them a hard time with are bowling and then look to score some runs against them.”
pradley@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
