DUBAI // Mohammed Tauqir, the longest-serving cricketer in the national team, has been named as caretaker captain for this month's tour of Kenya. The Emirati off-spinner will assume the role in the absence of the regular incumbent, Khurram Khan, who will miss the trip due to work commitments. Tauqir, 38, is a well-qualified locum. He has been a vital cog of the national team for many years, and has captained the side on a variety of occasions in the past.
Since recovering from a broken hand which kept him out of the World Twenty20 qualifiers in Dubai in February, he has successfully captained the ECB Blues, the feeder team to the full UAE side. "Khurram was unable to get the time off work this time but it is more important that he is available for [the ICC Intercontinental Shield final against Namibia later this year]," Mazhar Khan, the Emirates Cricket Board administrator, said. "Tauqir has been doing a fine job with the ECB Blues."
The trip to Kenya also marks the return of Kabir Khan, the new head coach who previously served a three-month term in the role at the end of 2007. The former Afghanistan coach has been confirmed as the replacement for Colin Wells. His first duty will be the Kenya tour, which lasts from October 15 to 24 and is designed to ready the national team for their Intercontinental Shield final at Dubai Sports City.
