Paul Franks says he wants to be part of the solution for UAE cricket, despite labelling some of the mistakes the national team made in losing to Scotland as errors worthy of “schoolboys”.
The seven-wicket loss was a second successive thrashing in the space of three days in the World Cricket League, and marked an unhappy end to Franks’ spell as interim coach.
Even though his term in charge was officially only temporary, the Englishman has a relatively long association with the national team, previously as assistant to Aaqib Javed, the former coach.
He felt the anguish of defeat keenly, and is resolved to help arrest the slide the UAE have been on for over a year, should the Emirates Cricket Board choose to make his position permanent.
“The Board have a decision to make and if they want to talk to me, I’ll listen,” Franks said.
“It gives me heart that some of the stuff we have tried to implement has been evident, even though in terms of quality in some areas, compared to Scotland we are still way off.
“There is no point thinking everything is rosy if there is still work to be done. I don’t like losing. I commit my heart and soul and expect my players to do the same. Hopefully they have got that message. There is plenty to be done.”
Again, it was the batting which let the UAE down. At least the batsmen made starts on this tour. In the recent past, their failings at the crease have suggested they just are not good enough.
The scores this time round, though, suggested there might be something to work with, but that the batsmen need to learn how to make telling contributions when set.
Shaiman Anwar, the senior player in the batting line up, top scored with 63, which was the only UAE half-century in the limited-overs series In Edinburgh.
The fact neither he, nor Mohammed Usman (43) or Rameez Shahzad (33), batted through the overs when well positioned, meant the UAE fell well short of the score of 300 that they looked to be threatening.
In response, Scotland showed how it should be done. The home side have had three centurions across the two one-day internationals this week.
This time it was Calum MacLeod who was the difference, with his ton underpinning a run chase that rarely appeared troubled.
“Twelve scores from our Top 6 between 20 and 60 in two games tells its own story,” Franks said.
“You look at the ruthlessness with which Scotland played to make three centuries and an 80, and that has ultimately been the winning and losing of the two games. We can have no excuses.
“We had players at the crease who were settled then we just handed wickets to the opposition in a style you would expect from schoolboys.”
pradley@thenational.ae
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