We take a close look at each player in the UAE squad separately.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) are one of 12 teams participating in the Hong Kong Sixes, starting next week. They have named a strong side, with most bringing a wealth of international experience with themselves.
UAE are placed in Pool C with India and Pakistan, two of the toughest teams in the competition. However, UAE will fancy their chances since the format is fickle, and they have a solid team to compete hard.
We take a close look at each player in the UAE squad separately.
Asif Khan, the right-hander who can also bowl a bit of off-spin, has been named the captain of UAE for this tournament. He has scored 1155 runs at an average of 38.50 and a strike rate of 82.91 in 34 ODI innings, including six fifties and three centuries, and 656 runs at an average of 28.52 and a strike rate of 139.27 in 28 T20Is, with the help of three half-centuries.
Asif also has some experience playing First Class cricket, scoring four fifties and a century in 55 innings. He is a naturally quick run-getter and can score quickly, and that’s something required in the Hong Kong Sixes tournament.
Among the most inexperienced players in the squad, Ansh Tandon is a specialist batter in the side, even though he can bowl a bit of leg-spin. He has made 10 appearances for UAE, one ODI and nine T20Is but hasn’t been among the runs.
However, there’s obvious quality, which led to his selection in the team. Recently, he was involved in the ILT20 Development Tournament, 2024, a local league based in UAE but couldn’t make any significant impact.
Khalid Shah is another specialist batter in the team who opens the innings and keeps the wickets. He has played only eight T20Is so far, scoring 116 runs at an average of 14.50 and a strike rate of 109.43, with the best of 37.
Recently, Khalid was involved in the Emirates D20 Tournament, where his form wasn’t good enough. He will look to turn the tables and step up in the main event, where he is expected to start in the team.
Also Read: Australia Squad for Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2024: Dan Christian to James Pattinson
Muhammad Zuhaib is among the specialist bowlers in the squad but has little experience playing for his national team. Zuhaib has featured in three ODIs and two T20Is but has been wicketless, even though he has scored 51 runs with the willow.
He has 11 wickets at an average of 20.09 and a strike rate of 15.27 in ten T20 innings, with a four-wicket haul. He is a smart operator, as visible in the ILT20 earlier this year, and will hope to play a crucial role in restricting high-flying batters with his variations.
Sanchit Sharma is a right-arm pacer who has played 10 ODIs and four T20Is and snared 12 wickets at 35.83 runs apiece. He was with Gulf Giants in the ILT20, where he gained valuable experience by playing 11 matches in the league.
He has been currently playing in the Emerging Teams Asia Cup. Sanchit will bowl tough overs for his team and hopes to put brakes on the scoring rate.
Ajuf Raja is among the most skilled players in the team, with 23 matches across ODIs and T20Is for UAE. He has taken 3 wickets at 53.33 runs apiece in ODIs and 14 wickets at an average of 30.50 in the shortest format.
Akif was part of Dubai Capitals in the ILT20 and was among their main bowlers, which shows he has the quality to perform against quality batters. He is also part of UAE’s squad in the Emerging Teams Asia Cup, which must have helped him get into the groove against quality teams in the tournament.
Zahoor Khan is among the most experienced players, featuring in 62 ODIs and 57 T20Is. He has 165 wickets at 23.09 runs apiece in 119 matches, including four four-wicket and a five-wicket haul.
He has also played in three T20 leagues – Lanka Premier League (LPL), International League T20 (ILT20), and Pakistan Super League (PSL). Zahoor has been playing in the ILT20 Development Tournament, 2024, which will help him get into the groove for the series.
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