Skipper Amjad happy with team for Scotland series

Dubai - The UAE selection committee includes two recently retired former captains - Mohammad Tauqeer and Khurram Khan

The UAE selectors have picked the best cricket team they could have selected for the tour of Scotland, according to captain Amjad Javed.
"The benefit of former players picking the team is that they know the best horses for the courses," he told Khaleej Times on Monday. The UAE selection committee includes two recently retired former captains - Mohammad Tauqeer and Khurram Khan.
"The selectors have played in Scottish league cricket, so they are familiar with their conditions and they have chosen the best possible team," he added.
The UAE team is currently attending a conditioning camp at the ICC Academy. They will play the hosts in a four-day Intercontinental Cup match from Aug. 9 to 12 at Mannofield Park in Aberdeen, and play two WCL games - with full ODI status - on Aug. 14 and 16 at the same ground. Before that the team will attend a 10-day preparation camp in Hampshire and Jersey from July 26. "We have the most balanced side since I have been playing for the UAE," pointed out Amjad, adding that there were more all-rounders in the current squad.
The tall UAE skipper believes that some of the new members in the team had blended well on the first two days of the camp. "These players have been playing domestic cricket with us so we know each other well," he explained.
In his opinion, Mohammad (Gulam) Shabbir was a good addition to the team as the wicketkeeper was in great batting form in recent months.
However, he conceded that the team would miss wicketkeeper Swapneel Patil, who was one of the few successful players in the World Cup and Asia Cup.
"We will miss him, he wasn't available due to some family issues but hopefully he will comeback to the team soon," he said optimistically.
Talking about players who failed to deliver in the World Cup last year, he stressed that it was unfair to compare these part-time cricketers to professional players from Test playing countries.
Krishna Karate was one of the players who had a miserable World Cup Down Under. Amjad, however, pointed out that the all-rounder had bagged five Man-of-the-Match awards during the recent domestic season.
"He is good and he will come good in Scotland," he hoped.
Amjad is also happy that the Emirates Cricket Board decided to give the team's charge to Paul Franks, who had in the past assisted the then UAE coach Aaqib Javed.
"He (Franks) has been with us for the last two years and he is more like a teammate," the UAE seam bowler said.
"It is an advantage that Paul had worked with Aaqib so he can easily continue the team-building process," he said, adding that he personally would like to see Franks appointed on long-term basis.
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