Asif’s second ton gives UAE another win
SOUTHPAW FIRST FROM UAE TO HIT CONSECUTIVE CENTURIES ON TOUR
UAE’s left-handed opening batsman Faizan Asif cracked back-toback centuries in Southampton in preparatory matches for the upcoming World Twenty20 qualifiers, which are set to commence from July 9 at Edinburgh in Scotland.
The UAE team played two Twenty20 matches after the 50-over International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket League to get acclimatised to English conditions and the Twenty20 format before proceeding to Scotland. In the first match against Jersey Men’s XI, Asif cracked an unbeaten 101 runs in UAE’s eight-wicket victory and followed it up with a knock of 111 against Kenya that helped UAE win by 100 runs.
Speaking to Gulf News after becoming the first UAE batsman to hit two centuries in a row during an international tour, Asif said: “It’s a great feeling to be among runs before an important tournament ahead of us. It felt really good to get some runs under my belt and also help my team win both the games.”
Asif is considered as a Twenty20 specialist due to his ability to score briskly with powerful shots but did not feature in the World Cricket League matches.
The successive centuries have strengthened Asif’s case for being considered in the team for all versions of the game.
Asif, who hails from Pakistan, arrived in the UAE soon after his studies in 2004. “I came to UAE without any job experience and played my first match for Yogi Group. Now I play for Ibsons Cricket Club,” he said.
His consistent performances in the domestic tournaments were rewarded when he was selected for the World Twenty20 Cup in Bangladesh in 2014.
Asif made his mark in UAE cricket through sheer hard work. “I worked hard day in and day out but I made sure to find time to play cricket on weekends and whenever possible with my friends. Soon I was spotted by other teams. I got an offer to play for Emirates Islamic Bank and performed well enough for them to offer me a job. From then on, I worked very hard on my cricket. My employers have been very supportive towards me,” he recalled.
Twenty20 World Cup
Thirty-two-year-old Asif made his Twenty20 International debut against Netherlands at Sylhet Stadium in Bangladesh during the Twenty20 World Cup. “My aim is now to do well in the Twenty20 qualifier and help UAE win the matches and thus get to play again in T20 World Cup.”
UAE play their first official warm-up match prior to the World Cup qualifiers in Scotland against Ireland on July 6 and face Nepal the following day at the Civil Service Cricket Club ground in Belfast.
In the first match of the World Twenty20 qualifiers, UAE will take on Scotland on July 9 at the Grange Cricket Club Ground in Edinburgh.