UAE cricket v Scotland: Rameez Shahzad comeback ruined by rain

Ahmed Raza bats against Scotland. (Image courtesy of Cricket Scotland)

Rameez Shahzad was denied his chance at a comeback hundred in his first international innings in eight years, as rain ruined the UAE’s Intercontinental Cup tie against Scotland.

After three defeats in the opening matches of the competition, the national team registered their first points of the tournament with a draw in Ayr.

The sides earned seven points apiece as the spoils were shared in the abandoned match in Ayr. While that at least provided some respite after the previous struggles in the competition, the UAE were frustrated by the lost game time after a bright showing at the end of Day 1.

In particular, Rameez was left stranded on 74 not out after rain washed out all but six overs of play on Days 2, 3 and 4 on Scotland’s west coast.

His half century represented a significant return for a batsman who last played for the UAE in the final of the 2008 ACC Trophy.

He was then cast into a lengthy spell in the wilderness by administrative issues that rendered him ineligible for selection, and now he is keen to make up for lost time.

“The conditions were about as difficult as possible for us to bat in, and my intention was just to stay there,” Rameez, 28, said.

“We have not been a very good four-day side and we are not used to this format. I was trying to go defensive, and playing with Shaiman [Anwar, who made 78] makes it so much easier.

“I wanted to stay with him and see where it went from there. That worked really well.”

When the match was abandoned, Rameez had been at the crease with Ahmed Raza, his childhood friend who had similarly been coached by his father, Shahzad Altaf.

Altaf and Rameez, who played for the UAE at the 1996 World Cup and now runs a productive coaching academy, are the only father and son pairing to have played for the national team.

Altaf was in Scotland to witness his son’s comeback, having made the trip north from a coaching tour across the border in England, and was thrilled by what he saw.

“It was a very proud feeling for me, for Rameez to have the chance to play again,” said Altaf, who runs the Young Talents Cricket Academy in Dubai and Sharjah.

“Before he was going out to bat, he was asking me what he should do and I told him he should play his own game, not to worry about any pressure.”

The two sides will now move 135kms east to Edinburgh for two World Cricket League Championship 50-over matches this week.

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