Published: Feb 27, 2015, 02:34 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 27, 2015, 03:07 PM (IST)
Mudassar Nazar, the former Pakistan player, is now a batting consultant with the United Arab Emirates at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Speaking to Nishad Pai Vaidya, Mudassar spoke about UAE’s progress and their aim to strengthen the Associates cause in the light of ICC’s plans to reduce the number of teams at the ICC World Cup. (ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Full coverage)
CricLife (CL): What would you have to say about UAE’s performance and progress so far coming into the ICC World Cup 2015?
Mudassar Nazar (MN): So far, they have made steady progress, not only in this tournament, but throughout the last six months. They have been playing reasonable cricket, a lot of the times outstanding as well. They came here and have given a good account of themselves. Back in Dubai, they played the Pakistan A side. Their performance has been going upwards and is progressive. This tournament, so far, they have given tough games to the opposition. Unfortunately, we could have won either of them, especially the last one, but wasn’t to be. They will go into the next game against India in the same mode and try and outdo India and be aggressive. We hope the third game is close like the first two and this time they turn the tables.
CL: In this team, there are mainly amateurs playing. So, how different is your coaching strategy, when compared to say when you are coaching the Pakistan team?
MN: Of course it changes. The intensity could be same, but the expectations are not same as when you coach say Misbah ul-Haq or Younis Khan or an Indian team. There are certain limitations, but rest assured they are trying their best and trying to improve their performances every single time. That is what you are exactly looking for when you are a coach.
CL: The ICC is planning to reduce the number of teams in the next World Cup. But the Associates have done well so far, so has UAE. Your thoughts on that?
MN: We would like to continue to do well in these tournaments, especially this one and make a strong enough case for the ICC to revisit that.
CL: What can we look forward to from UAE cricket?
MN: You can look forward to more positive performances. As I have seen in the last six years, cricket has improved in UAE. More grounds and school children are playing cricket. It augurs well for UAE.
(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Correspondent with CricketCountry and anchor for the site’s YouTube Channel. His Twitter handle is @nishad_45)
