Playing in World Cup means a lot to us : UAE cricketers of Indian origin

What does it mean to represent the UAE, your adopted home, at the World Cup?
Krishnachandran Karate (KK): I have a lot of passion for this game. I had dreamt of playing for my home country, but the circumstances didn't allow me to live that dream. So I had to shift base to another country where I found a job and started chasing my cricket dream all over again. Thankfully, the passion never drained out. You look at any cricketer, be it the boy on the street or the one playing proper cricket, and he will tell you that he dreams of playing in the World Cup. So, yeah, I am proud to say that I am living my dream.
Swapnil Patil (SP): I am a Mumbaikar and cricket is in my blood. Actually, my father (Prakash Patil) was a left-arm spinner and batsman who represented the Bank of Maharashtra in various tournaments. Now, he coaches young boys at an academy in Dahanu. I played in Vasai before representing Mumbai at the Under-14, Under-16, Under-19 and Under-22 levels. I was also a Ranji Trophy probable. I want our team to do well at the World Cup.

How big an occasion is it to play against India?
KK: I can't explain that. Both of us have friends in the Indian team. Stuart Binny and I went to Jain College (Bangalore). I hope to play with him tomorrow (Saturday).
SP: I have played with Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma and Dhawal Kulkarni, the three Mumbaikars in Team India. In fact, Ajinkya and I played together at the Mulund Gymkhana. Rohit and I have toured at the Under-19 and Under-22 levels. Each of them is a couple of years younger than me. Their bus made its way into the stadium just after ours left. So I couldn't meet them. But I'll see them on match day.

Being a Mumbaikar, Swapnil may not have had trouble finding cricketing heroes. How did a Kerala boy like you grow up loving this game?
KK: Like any other young boy in India, I started playing rubber-ball and tennis-ball cricket. When I was in Class 7, I moved from Kollengode (Palakkad district) to Chennai where I studied at St John's International Residential School. Staying in the hostel made me homesick. Cricket was my escape. It changed my life. But I actually played 'real' cricket at the age of 16. Then, I went on to represent Kerala at the Under-19, Under-22 and Under-25 levels. I also played a few List A games, but not Ranji Trophy. When I started playing Under-19 cricket, S Sreesanth was my first roommate. He was a huge inspiration. He came across as a fighter who wanted to do well. I admired that spirit of his. Life took him to the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai. And after a few years, he became an international cricketer. In fact, it was Sreesanth who made me realise that I, too, could play the game at the highest level.

Every member of the UAE squad does a day job before donning the cricketer's hat…
KK: Yes, that's right. I work in the customer service division of Dnata (the cargo arm of Emirates Airline). My boss, Narendra Jadeja, Ajay Jadeja's first cousin, loves cricket. He has been kind enough to allow me to do the 7am to 3:30pm shift. That way, I get the whole evening for cricket. That apart, he has allowed me to take Fridays and Saturdays off. Prior to leaving for Australia, the vice-president called me to his office and asked me for a picture. The office gave me a great send-off. I am also carrying some miniature bats. My colleagues want me to get the autographs of Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. I hope to see Sachin, the brand ambassador of the World Cup.
SP: I work as a sales executive at Yogi Group. I work from 8:30am to 5pm in the Al Quoz Industrial Area. After work, I go to the ICC Cricket Academy, located 15 minutes away, where I practice and hit the gym. Around 10pm, I start for home, which is 45 minutes away. I do this for six days a week. Friday is a holiday but, more often than not, I end up playing office cricket.

Coach Aaqib Javed has done a fantastic job with this team…
SP: He is a World Cup winner. He is as dedicated as the players. Every time we hit the gym or engage in fitness drills, he joins us. At 42, he is among the fittest in the team. He has guided us admirably. Our team comprises two Indians, several Pakistanis, Sri Lankans and Emiratis. We are like a family. Our best player is Khurram Khan. At 43, he is the freshest and fittest of the lot. He scores runs in every game. He was also our captain for a long time. In our dressing room, we converse in Hindi, Urdu and English. The Emiratis utter a few words of Arabic when they feel like.

What's your goal for this World Cup?
KK: I think just playing in it means a lot to me.
SP: Same here.