Win over Bermuda would give UAE home final

The UAE's cricketers will continue their pursuit of a home final in the ICC Intercontinental Shield when they begin their four-day encounter with Bermuda today. Even though they failed to force a win over Uganda in their last outing in the competition, in Abu Dhabi in January, the national team are still well-placed. Having claimed an outright win over Namibia - arguably the country's finest success to date in this format - in December, the UAE are sitting third in the four-team pool.

However, Khurram Khan's side - which includes Mohamed Tauqir, who has recovered from the broken finger he suffered against Uganda - would be almost certain of a place in the final if they secure an outright win over a Bermuda side who have lost both their matches so far. The top two - Uganda and Namibia - have to play each other in the last fixture. The final of the shield, which is a four-day cricket competition for the second tier of non-Test playing nations, will take place in the UAE at the end of November.

@Email:pradley@thenational.ae