Chirag Suri 78 not out v Netherlands, 2018, World Cup Qualifier - The youngest member of the squad did not know he was going to be playing on the morning of a match that was vital to the UAE’s chances of retaining one-day international status. Ashfaq Ahmed then failed a fitness test on his hamstring, Suri was sent to the top of the order, and marshalled a nervy run-chase at the Harare Sports Club. Courtesy ICC
Mohammed Usman 89 not out v Canada, 2019 T20 World Cup Qualifier - Mohammed Usman might have played the most important innings in the history of UAE cricket on Sunday night. The middle-order batsman came to the crease with the UAE in trouble at 6-2 after only seven balls, but proceeded to play a sparkling innings to help them over the line to win by 14 runs to advance their hopes of reaching next year's T20 World Cup in Australia. Victor Besa / The National
Saleem Raza 65 not out, Mohammed Ishaq 72 not out v Netherlands, 1994, ICC Trophy - Two old friends from Lahore who relocated to Abu Dhabi got together to carry the UAE to its first ever World Cup, sharing in an unbroken 123-run stand to win the all-important semifinal against the Dutch. Reaching the final of the ICC Trophy in Nairobi booked the UAE a place at the subcontinent World Cup two years later. Pawan Singh / The National
Khurram Khan 49 v Namibia, 2014, World Cup Qualifier - The UAE’s second World Cup appearance, 19 years after the first, was brought about almost single-handedly by their 42-year-old captain. Khurrram scored 581 runs in the Qualifier tournament, and was man of the match in the win over Namibia in Rangiora that finally secured a trip to Australia and New Zealand. Image courtesy ICC
Rohan Mustafa 77 v Afghanistan, 2016, Asia Cup Qualifier - UAE cricket was listing badly after 15 months of abysmal results since the start of the Cricket World Cup. Mustafa’s career, too, had stalled. He asked to be promoted to the top of the order for the first time in the Asia Cup qualifier in Fatullah. He proceeded to raze an Afghanistan attack that included Rashid Khan. He and the UAE team were suddenly reborn. Ravindranath K / The National
Chirag Suri 78 not out v Netherlands, 2018, World Cup Qualifier - The youngest member of the squad did not know he was going to be playing on the morning of a match that was vital to the UAE’s chances of retaining one-day international status. Ashfaq Ahmed then failed a fitness test on his hamstring, Suri was sent to the top of the order, and marshalled a nervy run-chase at the Harare Sports Club. Courtesy ICC
Mohammed Usman 89 not out v Canada, 2019 T20 World Cup Qualifier - Mohammed Usman might have played the most important innings in the history of UAE cricket on Sunday night. The middle-order batsman came to the crease with the UAE in trouble at 6-2 after only seven balls, but proceeded to play a sparkling innings to help them over the line to win by 14 runs to advance their hopes of reaching next year's T20 World Cup in Australia. Victor Besa / The National
Saleem Raza 65 not out, Mohammed Ishaq 72 not out v Netherlands, 1994, ICC Trophy - Two old friends from Lahore who relocated to Abu Dhabi got together to carry the UAE to its first ever World Cup, sharing in an unbroken 123-run stand to win the all-important semifinal against the Dutch. Reaching the final of the ICC Trophy in Nairobi booked the UAE a place at the subcontinent World Cup two years later. Pawan Singh / The National
Khurram Khan 49 v Namibia, 2014, World Cup Qualifier - The UAE’s second World Cup appearance, 19 years after the first, was brought about almost single-handedly by their 42-year-old captain. Khurrram scored 581 runs in the Qualifier tournament, and was man of the match in the win over Namibia in Rangiora that finally secured a trip to Australia and New Zealand. Image courtesy ICC
Rohan Mustafa 77 v Afghanistan, 2016, Asia Cup Qualifier - UAE cricket was listing badly after 15 months of abysmal results since the start of the Cricket World Cup. Mustafa’s career, too, had stalled. He asked to be promoted to the top of the order for the first time in the Asia Cup qualifier in Fatullah. He proceeded to raze an Afghanistan attack that included Rashid Khan. He and the UAE team were suddenly reborn. Ravindranath K / The National
Chirag Suri 78 not out v Netherlands, 2018, World Cup Qualifier - The youngest member of the squad did not know he was going to be playing on the morning of a match that was vital to the UAE’s chances of retaining one-day international status. Ashfaq Ahmed then failed a fitness test on his hamstring, Suri was sent to the top of the order, and marshalled a nervy run-chase at the Harare Sports Club. Courtesy ICC
