The World Cup has not started and already the UAE’s players are ticking boxes off their cricketing bucket lists.
The real business is looming large. That much is obvious from the fact the national team yesterday trained at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the 100,000-capacity arena that will stage the final at the end of March.
They will be playing there in an official tournament warm-up match against Australia today. It is not obvious which will be more exhilarating – the prospect of facing Mitchell Johnson, or the chance to play at one of the sport’s most celebrated venues.
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Even Khurram Khan, the venerable leading player of UAE cricket, is eager.
In his role as an Emirates Airline cabin crew member, Khurram has been a frequent visitor to Melbourne in the past and often stayed in a hotel with a view of the stadium.
He never went in, though, preferring to save that for the off-chance he might one day be a player there.
“I have never walked into the stadium because I have always wanted to play there so it is a huge moment,” Khurram said yesterday.
Australia clearly are not expecting too much of a test from the UAE.
Michael Clarke, the home captain, will make his comeback from injury in this fixture, although he is then going to be rested when Australia play England later in the week.
Aaqib Javed, the coach, pointed out his side are there to play “hard cricket” rather than simply provide practice for their celebrated opponents.
“We’ve been doing really well at Associate level, but this is the next stage,” Aaqib said yesterday in Melbourne.
“We know there is a gap, but I think we can push really hard some of the international sides.
“There are phases in the game when the strongest teams give you a chance to sneak in and exploit the soft part of the game.”
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At the weekend, Mohammed Tauqir, the UAE captain, said his side will not be daunted by playing at the MCG.
“We are looking forward to that game,” Tauqir said. “We’ve been practising, we’ve been training hard over the last six months and we are looking forward to play Australia at MCG.
“We don’t really feel daunted by it.
“All the boys are very, very excited and confident and positive. It’s a dream come true for all of us.”
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