UAE suffer a pair of reality checks ahead of the Cricket World Cup

Nasir Aziz and Krichnachandran Karate each took three wickets as the UAE bowlers restricted Australia to 304-8 before their line-up was overwhelmed in response in a Cricket World Cup warm-up loss, reports Paul Radley.

Nasir Aziz of the UAE reacts after taking the wicket of Aaron Finch in their one-day Cricket World Cup warm-up loss to Australia on Wednesday. Mal Fairclough / AFP / February 11, 2015

Krishnachandran Karate showed he has the ability to go with the moniker as he bids to make a name for himself at the World Cup, after taking three wickets in a defeat to Australia.

The Keralan all-rounder had asked to be referred to as “Krishna Chandran” during this competition.

He wanted to drop Karate, which is his mother’s name, as he felt the interest it might engender might draw undue attention to him for reasons other than his performances.

However, the memo was only received after the UAE kit suppliers, Tyka Sports, had issued the team’s kit, with “Karate” freshly printed on the back of his shirt.

If he maintains the form he showed in the hefty warm-up match defeat to the tournament favourites, though, his name is likely to feature regularly anyway.

The India-born all-rounder dismissed George Bailey, Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell, as the UAE restricted the Australians to 304 for eight in Melbourne.

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It was a indicator as to why Aaqib Javed, the UAE coach, rates him so highly.

“He looks like a medium pacer, but he is very intelligent,” Aaqib said of Karate.

“He mixes it up really well. He has three variations, can bowl yorkers and can be very handy in the death overs with slower bouncers and slower balls.”

Karate’s effort underpinned a promising effort in the field by the national team, with Nasir Aziz, the off-spinner, also picking up three scalps.

However, the rest of the day was a chastening one for the UAE, and for more than one reason.

First of all, they were shot out for a paltry 116 with nearly 20 overs left unused. Only Swapnil Patil, the wicket-keeper batsman, and Amjad Ali spent any worthwhile amount of time at the wicket.

Furthermore, news from elsewhere was troubling, as Zimbabwe thrashed Sri Lanka, the 1996 World Cup winners, in their warm-up match.

The UAE face the African side in their World Cup opener in Nelson, New Zealand on Thursday February 19, and have targeted it as a winnable fixture.

However, the team could console themselves with the fact they were facing an Australia side who have hardly been light on match practice of late, unlike themselves.

And Mohammed Tauqir, the captain, pointed out that they expect higher standards of themselves with the bat and will be better for the experience.

“We had a little bit of butterflies in the stomach when we started,” Tauqir, who took one wicket and held a catch was quoted as saying in the post-match press conference.

“I think we did well in the first innings, bowling and fielding, but I think quite a few unnecessary strokes with our batting.

“The credit goes to the Australian bowlers, they bowled beautifully. But we know we can do better than this.

“It was a good learning experience playing against Australia. For the rest of the tournament I don’t think there will be any bigger game than this.”

The Australians, whose main focus was on the successful return to fitness of their captain Michael Clarke, also had words of encouragement for the UAE.

“They were excellent,” Aaron Finch, the Australia opener, was quoted as saying.

“They had some very skilled players. They’ve got a bright future. Who knows, they might shake a few feathers in the World Cup.”

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