Dubai: UAE players were on Thursday busy adjusting to the time difference and conditions after landing in Australia ahead of their first tour match at the famous Western Australia Cricket Association (Waca) Ground in Perth on Friday.
The tourists will take on the Western Warriors as part of their preparation for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand early next year.
The UAE squad took part in long training sessions under the watchful eyes of coach Aaqib Javed and batting consultant Mudassar Nazar, the two former Pakistan Test stars.
Speaking to Gulf News after a season at the Waca nets, UAE skipper Khurram Khan said: “We had excellent practice sessions and we all are trying to adjust to the time difference.
“All the guys are enjoying and I hope this trip will be mighty helpful getting to know the conditions better.”
The captain had chats with all the players on various aspects of the game. Khan, who in his 40s, is one of the most experienced cricketers in the UAE and is also a consistent performer who played a pivotal role in the team qualifying for the World Cup.
With five months to go until the showpiece event, the UAE are the first of four qualifiers to arrive in Australia and New Zealand to sharpen their skills in tours organised by the ICC’s High Performance Programme (HPP).
They will play two matches in Perth against the Warriors, both of which are expected to be tough tests for the tourists. The Warriors are made up of the top district performers, who will see the games as crucial preparation ahead of the Matador BBQ One Day Cup, which is scheduled to begin in Brisbane in October.
The UAE will be up against Tim Armstrong, the highest scorer in district cricket and who won the Olly Cooley medal for the best player. Considering that the UAE are good players of spin, the hosts have selected top tweakers Ryan James and Kyle Millar.
The match is expected to give UAE exposure to conditions in Perth as they will play India there in a group match on February 28. Also in Pool B are South Africa, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe and Ireland, with the UAE’s other matches being played at Brisbane, Wellington and Napier.
The Warriors are managed by Western Australia Talent Manager Brett Jones and the team is taking on the UAE after a ten-week training programme.
