International cricketers may be obsessed with taking the positives out of defeats, but seldom can a loss have had such a shimmering silver lining as when the UAE went down to Scotland yesterday.
The national team may have sacrificed a trophy by way of the 41-run reverse to Scotland in the final of the World Cup qualifier in New Zealand.
They gained so much more, though. As a consequence of finishing runners-up in the 10 team event, the UAE have been pitted into Pool B at the 2015 World Cup.
Meaning they have 12 months to prepare for fixtures against India and Pakistan, amongst the rest of the world’s elite.
If the reality of what they had achieved by qualifying had yet to sink in, then maybe the idea of sharing a field with MS Dhoni and the rest of the Indian Premier League millionaires should do the trick.
Aaqib Javed, the former Pakistan Test player who now coaches UAE, believes the India and Pakistan fixtures in particular could have a significant impact on the sport here.
Aaqib wants the leading 20 players in the country to be released from their work duties for the next year to give the national team the best chance of succeeding.
That requires a sizeable funding boost and he hopes corporate sponsors will be enticed by the fact the team have been drawn against the giants of Asian cricket.
“It adds a lot because back at home people will be very excited to see their team competing against India and Pakistan,” the coach said.
“I think these two fixtures will definitely attract sponsors to support UAE because playing against India and Pakistan is a huge thing.
“I want the players to report for training at the ICC Academy in Dubai at 9am every day and work like professionals.”
The UAE have already had a small taste of what it feels like to play in front of a global audience as their final yesterday was screened live online on the ICC’s website.
That meant viewers got the chance to see a Khurram Khan square drive in high-definition, as well as Vikrant Shetty having his helmet smashed by a bouncer in ultra-slow motion.
“Congratulations go to both Scotland and UAE for a tremendous effort in reaching the World Cup, and for their exceptional performances,” said Alan Isaac, the ICC president.
“I am delighted that fans around the world could enjoy the high standard of cricket.”
Khurram was somehow overlooked for the player of the tournament award, despite scoring a competition record 581 runs and taking seven wickets, with a parsimonious economy rate of 4.8 runs per over with his left-arm spin.
He was beaten to the award by Scotland’s captain, Preston Mommsen, whose unbeaten 139 in the final proved the difference between the two sides.
Khurram echoed his coach’s view that the players will need to work like professional players, rather than part-timers, if they are to impress at the World Cup.
“We are going to go back and start working hard, it is not going to be easy from here on,” Khurram said.
“When we left the UAE, everyone said the conditions are not going to suit you, but I think they did a wonderful job coming here and qualifying. It was an amazing experience.”
pradley@thenational.ae
