UAE eye upset in T20 WC group of death; US aim to emulate ’24 feat in tie vs Pakistan

The UAE are dreaming big as they prepare for the start of their third Twenty20 World Cup campaign on Tuesday, hoping for a famous win in what looks a very strong group.

The Gulf nation, who have won only one match in their previous two World Cups, failed to qualify for the last edition but experienced fast bowler Junaid Siddique believes that has only fuelled their hunger for success.

“Two to three years back, we could just imagine about pulling up an upset. Now, we have the belief that we can do, we can upset or beat any team,” the 33-year-old told Reuters on a video call.

“One good innings, one good spell and we can beat any team. That’s how a T20 game is.”

Siddique thinks the UAE’s domestic International League T20, which was launched in 2023 allowing local players to rub shoulders with cricket’s biggest names, has been crucial.

“Most of the players are now playing ILT20 and getting good opportunities and learning from the big players. So, we have a lot of confidence and belief that we can have a good impact in this World Cup,” said Siddique, who represented Sharjah Warriors this season.

The odds are stacked against them in a group featuring South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan but Siddique, who was born in Pakistan, has faced New Zealand and Afghanistan before.

The country, which attained associate member status of the International Cricket Council in 1990, craves more games against full member nations, having played only nine of their 23 T20 matches last year against the world’s top sides.

“If we play against the big teams, we can get more experience and exposure. We can compete (well) and beat them,” he said.

The UAE open their campaign against New Zealand on Tuesday at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium.

‘All the pressure’ on Pakistan: US leg-spinner Mohammad Mohsin said on Monday that “the pressure will be on Pakistan” when the teams lock horns in the T20 World Cup again, two years after the Americans inflicted a shock defeat on the former champions.

But Pakistan quick bowler Salman Mirza insisted the stunning super over defeat in Dallas in the 2024 T20 World Cup would be firmly “in the past” when the two clash in Colombo on Tuesday.

The US team gave tournament favourites India a big scare in their opening match in Mumbai, reducing them to 77-6 at one point, with Mohsin taking a wicket on his T20 World Cup debut, before losing by 29 runs.

They are confident they can repeat their stunning upset of two years ago in the Group A encounter.

“The pressure of losing the last game will be on Pakistan,” said Mohsin.

Born and brought up playing cricket in Pakistan, Mohsin migrated to the US five years ago and warned the US were a better team now than two years ago.

“I have played with most of the players in this Pakistan team, so I have given my input to the team and we are a more skilled and confident team.”

Mirza was confident the last defeat will not prey on the Pakistan players’ minds.

“Winning and losing are part of the game, it happens in cricket,” Mirza said. “The defeat against the USA is now past and behind us.”

Pakistan, the 2009 champions, were close to suffering another shock in their opening match against the Netherlands on Saturday.

Pakistan were staring at defeat with 29 runs needed in the last two overs but all-rounder Faheem Ashraf’s big hitting bailed them out.

Pakistan cannot afford any slip-ups if they are to qualify for the super eight stage as one of the top two teams in Group A after saying they would not play India on February 15.

Defeat to the US two years ago saw them fail to get out of the group.

Agencies