Ireland the inspiration as UAE bid to upset Zimbabwe in Cricket World Cup opener

UAE captain Mohammed Tauqir insists his team will draw inspiration from Ireland as they prepare to confront Zimbabwe in their opening World Cup match in Nelson on Thursday.

Just as Ireland stunned the West Indies with a four-wicket win on the same Saxton Oval wicket on Monday, the UAE side have dared to dream that they too are capable of an upset.

“It was a great win for Ireland. Most of the associate nations are doing well and we would like to prove a point also,” UAE skipper Mohammad Tauqir, an investment banker by profession, said on Wednesday.

“Every individual in the team has his own target and goals and collectively we are looking forward to at least getting a couple of wins against Test nations. That’s what we’re targeting.”

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While Ireland’s win over a depleted West Indies could be considered an upset, the odds are considerably higher for UAE against Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe showed their credentials by posting 277 in their opening Pool B match against the highly-vaunted South African bowling attack after being set a target of 339.

The UAE are the least experienced side in the competition where even Ireland, while also not full members of the International Cricket Council, have most of their players hardened by exposure to English county cricket.

That experience showed as Ireland chased down a 304-run target with 25 balls to spare and with the UAE squad keen spectators at the way they handled the conditions.

However, Tauqir is not fazed by the UAE’s perceived lack of experience and has backed his team to post a competitive score on Thursday.

“It’s a good ground, a good batting wicket. We’re also expecting 300-plus,” 43-year-old Tauqir said, which if achieved would be a record for UAE whose highest listed score is 282-4 against Afghanistan last November.

That total was built around an unbeaten 132 by Khurram Khan which is the only ODI century by a UAE player.

Vice-captain Khurram, by day an airline flight purser, has also scored five half centuries in his last six List-A games leading into the World Cup.

UAE are making their second appearance at a Cricket World Cup. Their only previous exposure to cricket’s premier ODI tournament was in 1996 where their solitary victory was a seven-wicket win over the Netherlands.

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