The Emirates Cricket Board has announced the UAE squad to face the Netherlands in this month’s ICC Intercontinental Cup (I-Cup) and ICC World Cricket League Championship (WCLC).

Coach Aaqib Javed has made a raft of changes to the squad humbled by Hong Kong in both tournaments at the ICC Academy in November, with central contracts an added incentive to arrest the country’s woeful run of form.

The UAE are without a competitive victory since beating minnows Canada at their failed World Twenty20 qualifying campaign in July last year.

The players, however, go into the fixtures knowing that sound performances will put them in pole position to gain the first professional contracts in the country’s history.

Eight players have been dropped from the squad that played Hong Kong, only captain Ahmed Raza, Shaiman Anwar, Swapnil Patil, Laxman Sreekumar and Usman Mushtaq retaining their places.

There are recalls for left-arm spinner Manjula Guruge, Rohan Mustafa, Saqlain Haider and Amjad Javed, while Qais Farooq, Mohammad Naveed (knee), Nasir Aziz and Asif Iqbal all miss out.

“We only have a few bowling options,” Javed explained. “Last time, Guruge really struggled in four-day cricket because he wasn’t ready. Qadeer Ahmed is looking good and can bowl longer. We are going with spin
rather than fast bowlers as the conditions for fast bowlers are tough.

“The experience (of the players recalled) will play a big part. It’s the best option and the best way to go forward because there’s not much domestic cricket being played, so you can’t bring in new players.

“We can only go on previous performances and these are the best available options.”

Meanwhile, the trio of Mohammad Usman, Farhan Ahmed and Muhammad Kaleem are all in line to make their competitive UAE debuts after impressing in the narrow 3-2 series defeat to England Lions last month.

Javed added: “We have included a few new players like Muhammad Kaleem, who plays as an opener and recently qualified for the UAE. He’s been doing well and had good performances. Also, Mohammad Usman is a smart batsman, who has good vision.”

This is the first squad named by the ECB since the advent of a full-time selection committee, led by chief selector Waleed Bukhatir including former captains Khurram Khan and Mohammad Tauqir, as well as ECB member Zayed Abbas.

​The UAE take on the Netherlands in the four-day I-Cup from Thursday, January 21, while the first WCLC game will be played Wednesday, January 27.

The second one-day game will take place on Friday January 29, with all games to be played at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Cricket Stadium.