UAE: 10 facts you should know about their cricket as they play India in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
UAE: 10 facts you should know about their cricket as they play India in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
The United Arab Emirates will face India in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. As they get set to play India, Nishad Pai Vaidya picks 10 facts you should know about UAE cricket.
1. UAE’s first captain owns the Intercontinental Hotel in Dubai
Sultan Zarawani is famous for two things. Firstly, he dismissed Sachin Tendulkar during UAE’s first game in 1994. And then the second was a forgettable incident during the 1996 World Cup, when he was hit on the head while facing Allan Donald. Zarawani had not worn a helmet as it made him feel uncomfortable. That apart, Zarawani owns the Intercontinental Hotel in Dubai. He is also said to have a huge line-up of pricey cars.
2. Majority of the players are not citizens of UAE
The majority of the population of the UAE constitutes of expatriates and that reflects in the make-up of their cricket team. Only a few Emiratis have played for the UAE at the highest level. Sultan Zarawani, Mohammad Tauqir, Alawi Shukri, Fahad Al-Hashmi are among the few. When UAE had won the ICC Trophy 1994, it is said that Kenya had accused them of playing the tournament with “mercenaries.”
3. Only Emiratis have captained UAE in World Cups
Only Emiratis have had the honour of leading UAE in World Cups. Zarawani was the captain back in 1996 and then Tauqir was appointed in the lead-up to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Khurram Khan had been captain for a long time, but Tauqir was appointed in an attempt to promote the sport amongst the locals.
4. UAE won their first ODI during the 1996 World Cup
UAE registered their first One-Day International (ODI) victory during the 1996 World Cup. In their last game against Netherlands, they won the contest by seven wickets. Saleem Raza was the star as he smashed 84 off 68 balls as UAE chased down 217 quite easily.
5. The coach is younger than the captain and vice-captain
The current UAE captain, Tauqir is born in January 1972, whereas his deputy, Khurram, was born in 1971. At the age of 43, the two are easily the oldest players in the ICC World Cup 2015. The UAE coach, Aaqib Javed, was born on August 5, 1972, which makes him younger than two of his main players.
6. A UAE bowler was awarded USD 1,000 for dismissing Sachin Tendulkar
No, the bowler was not Zarawani. What is USD 1,000 for him anyways! In 2004, when UAE and India were to face in an Asia Cup encounter in Dambulla, someone in the UAE had announced that the man who would get Tendulkar out, would receive an award of USD 1,000. Asim Saeed, a left-arm pacer, had him dismissed for 18. In two ODIs, Saeed took that solitary wicket. Interestingly, he later opened the batting for UAE in that game against India and scored 12.
7. Krishna Chandran Karate is the first Keralite to play cricket for UAE
A bit of a surprising fact: UAE has a large Malayali population, but Krishna Chandran Karate, an all-rounder, is the first Keralite to play for that country. He too was surprised by that fact. “When I got to know about this fact (being the first Malayalee to play for UAE), even I was quite surprised because I know that amongst the Indians who play cricket there, majority of them are Malayalees. It was quite surprising that I was the first one to break into the senior side,” he said.
8. Khurram Khan is the oldest ODI centurion
At the age of 43, Khurram became the oldest man to score a century in ODIs, when he hit 132 not out against Afghanistan in November 2014. Khurram has been an untiring servant of UAE cricket and has been one of their best players for years. Off the field, he works for the Emirates Airlines.
9. UAE has hosted 271 ODIs
The UAE has hosted 271 ODIs, out of which, their team has featured in only two. Out of those 271 ODIs, Sharjah alone has hosted 218 games, which is the most for any ground in the world.
10. A UAE player once kept wickets for Australia
During Australia’s tour to UAE to play Pakistan in 2014, they needed another wicketkeeper during one of the tour games. Saqlain Haider, the UAE wicketkeeper, substituted Brad Haddin for a day. In that game, he took a catch and his performance was well-received.
(Nishad Pai Vaidya is Correspondent with CricketCountry and anchor for the site’s YouTube Channel. His Twitter handle is @nishad_45)