Despite uncertainty surrounding their final Asia Cup Group A match against Pakistan, UAE head coach Lalchand Rajput remains optimistic about securing a historic Super Four spot.
After defeating Oman in their second match, UAE can advance to the Super Four by upsetting Pakistan in Dubai on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has reportedly threatened to boycott if match referee Andy Pycroft, who officiated their game against India, is not removed due to the handshake controversy.
The Indian team refused to shake hands with Pakistan after their seven-wicket victory, marking their first encounter since tensions nearly led to war.
Coach Rajput, however, is focusing solely on the task at hand.
“Having recently played Pakistan in a tri-series in Sharjah, we understand our position. A strong performance could ensure our place in the Super Four,” he stated.
UAE’s hopes were bolstered by a decisive win over Oman in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
“We excelled against Oman and will strive to deliver our best cricket on Wednesday,” Rajput said. “Qualifying for the last four would be monumental for us.”
Teams:
UAE (possible): 1 Alishan Sharafu, 2 Muhammad Waseem (capt), 3 Muhammad Zohaib, 4 Asif Khan, 5 Harshit Kaushik, 6 Rahul Chopra (wk), 7 Dhruv Parashar, 8 Haider Ali, 9 Muhammad Rohid Khan, 10 Muhammad Jawadullah, 11 Junaid Siddique
Pakistan (possible): 1 Sahibzada Farhan, 2 Saim Ayub, 3 Fakhar Zaman, 4 Salman Ali Agha (capt), 5 Hasan Nawaz, 6 Mohammad Haris (wk), 7 Mohammad Nawaz, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Shaheen Afridi, 10 Sufiyan Muqeem, 11 Abrar Ahmed.
The match kicks off at 6:30 pm at Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday.
