The UAE will be looking to clinch the four-match one-day international series when they take on Afghanistan in the third one-dayer at the ICC Academy on Tuesday.
The hosts enter the match on the back of a comprehensive six-wicket win that saw captain Khurram Khan become the oldest ODI centurion at 43-years and 162 days old, with an unbeaten 132 on Sunday.
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Earlier, in the first ODI, the UAE beat Afghanistan by five wickets, and Khan has urged his team-mates to go all out to make it 3-0.
“It’s been a great series for us so far,” said Khan. “The players have played extremely well and although we still need to do a lot better in fielding, it’s been two good performances from us. We have a chance to seal the series and it’s important not to lose our focus bec-ause we still want to finish the job. If we do win on Tuesday, it would be a big boost for confidence.”
And the UAE coach, Aaqib Javed, echoed Khan’s view. He said: “This is a preparation match for the World Cup and I told the players after the match on Sunday that the job isn’t finished. Afghanistan will do all they can to level the series.
“It’s important that they don’t get carried away. When they go out they must concentrate on the ball only; forget about who you are bowling to, or who is bowling to you.”
Javed will make some changes to today’s team, giving an opportunity for players to impress ahead of next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. But following his her-oic innings with the bat, Mohammad Shahzad, who scored 79 and put on a 160-run partnership with Khan in Sunday’s match, looks set to retain his place.
“Shahzad played an superb innings. He really orchestrated the innings with some fantastic batting and helped Khan to put on a solid partnership,” added Javed.
“I wanted to see him bat because he can really smash the ball hard and it was great to see that.”
Saqlain Haider will replace Swapnil Patil behind the stumps while Emirati Fahad Alhashmi could end his international exile since February 2010. Javed will also have to choose between Ahmed Raza and Nasir Aziz as his spinner.