UAE team to play first ODI against full member side in 24 years
The UAE will play their first home one-day international against a full member side in 24 years when they face Ireland in Dubai tomorrow.
The national team did play two matches against the Irish at the ICC Academy in Dubai 10 months ago.
Ireland and Afghanistan were subsequently promoted by ICC from associate to full status – which essentially entitles both sides to now play Test cricket.
As such, it will be the first time the hosts have faced a side of that rank on home soil in a full ODI since they played matches against India and Pakistan in Sharjah in 1994. The Ireland matches, tomorrow and Saturday, will be followed by two more ODIs against Scotland, on January 21 and 23, also at the ICC Academy.
The fixtures represent a chance for the national team to fine-tune their game ahead of important assignments to follow in the coming months.
They UAE are hopeful they will be reunited with Scotland and Ireland in competition in March, the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe which will decide the final two places for the event in England in 2019. To reach there, they first have to navigate World Cricket League Division 2, in Namibia next month. Two teams from that six-team event in Windhoek will reach the final phase of qualifying in Zimbabwe.
“We are especially delighted, and encouraged, that a Full Member will be joining us for this series,” Waleed Bukhatir, the Emirates Cricket Board’s chief selector, said.
“Aside from posting victory, our expectations are these ODI games will provide a solid platform for the players to further integrate their fitness and skills work into their playing styles as we move toward our WCL campaign.”