Interim UAE coach Owais Shah was handed a baptism of fire in his first match at the helm as the UAE were blown away by West Indies on day-one of their two-day tour game at ICC Academy.
As UAE’s 20-over stint at the end of the day began, Shah spoke of the team still coming to terms with the demands of full-time cricket.
“I think it’s a work in progress but I think we are making some progress quickly,” said Shah as the UAE’s response got underway before saying how impressed he was with the team’s work ethic.
“The attitude to training and wanting to learn is very good. I don’t think they realise quite what’s required yet from a guy to turn up and practice his cricket skills day-in, day-out. That will take some time because it’s a new setup but I think they are getting there quite quickly.”
The UAE will need to continue their development quickly, with or without Shah’s expertise to guide them, especially in the longer formats of the game where such opportunities against Test sides are almost non-existent.
Here, they did not give a great account of themselves as their batsmen passed each other from wicket to pavilion with alarming regularity. But it was another valuable learning experience for the team.
Having posted 249-6 from their agreed 70 overs, the West Indies ripped UAE apart, reducing them to 56-7 in the final overs of the day.
In the face of a ten over spell from West Indies quicks Miguel Cummins (5-1-12-3) and Jonathan Carter (5-2-20-4) the team slipped to 20-7.
West Indies captain Leon Johnson was full of praise for his two new-ball bowlers who exposed UAE’s lack of exposure to cricket in its longer form.
“I thought the guys put the balls in good areas. Most of the wickets were bowled or catches behind the stumps,” said Johnson.
“I’m not sure how much red-ball cricket they play here in the UAE but I think some of their balls they could’ve left.”
Of the six Windies wickets to fall, four were the result of batsmen retiring out. Rohan Mustafa and captain Amjad Javed took the two genuine wickets for the UAE who showcased the same problems that have plagued the side for years as they shelled four catches in the field.
With the bat, Shaiman Anwar provided some resistance in an unbeaten 23 but, crucially, they finally had lessons to learn and practical examinations to refer back to.
UAE can bat a further 50 overs on day two but the likelihood is that they will spend the majority of the day in the field.
It may not be a familiar experience, or one the majority of their players particularly enjoy, but it is one they must make the most of.