UAE and Ireland return to international cricket after the coronavirus pandemic had stopped their matches

By K.R. Nayar

UAE and Ireland will play a four-match One Day International series in Abu Dhabi from January 8, 2021. For the UAE, playing against Ireland, which is an ICC full member team, will be an experience for the squad that also includes some Under-19 cricketers

UAE skipper Ahmed Raza 

UAE cricket team returns to international cricket by taking on Ireland who had beaten reigning world champions England in their last One Day International match. The four-match series commences from January 8, followed by matches on January 10, 12, and 14, at the Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.

Speaking at the pre-series press conference on Wednesday, UAE skipper Ahmed Raza thanked the Emirates Cricket Board and Ireland, and said: “I would like to thank Andy (Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie) and his team for coming down to the UAE and putting the trust in us, in our facilities, and Abu Dhabi Cricket for hosting this series.”

According to Raza, what makes this series special is the fact that the national team is playing a One Day International match after January 9, 2020, when they had played Namibia in the ICC Men’s World Cup League 2 at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman. In that match, Raza had emerged the man of the match through a deadly five-wicket spell to help the UAE win by eight wickets.

UAE's coach Robin Singh has included many Under-19 cricketers into the squad for this series, especially those who have shown promise in domestic matches.

Emirates Cricket Board general secretary Mubashshir Usmani, announcing this series, said: “We are grateful to Ireland for accepting our invitation and giving our players an opportunity to play a full member nation. Thanks to Subhan Ahmad (former Pakistan Cricket Board Chief Operating Officer who took charge as Advisor to the Emirates Cricket Board in May 2020) for getting this whole series organised. This series will be a great opportunity for the UAE team and the development of cricket in the UAE.”

Vivek Chandra, Director, ITW Consulting MENA that has been backing the Emirates Cricket Board’s efforts as the board’s commercial partner, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Emirates Cricket Board’s efforts. We have backed the board in staging a D10 tournament and then a D20 event and now for a series against a full member nation. It would be a great opportunity for both teams to have an exciting ODI experience. Both these teams have great potential, and we look forward to helping these teams in every way possible.”

The Title Sponsor for the tournament is SKY247.Net and the series will be streamed live in India on Euro Sports, on Premier Sports in the UK, Criclife in the UAE, and Willow TV in the USA.  The board released the logo of the series during the press conference, and it will be called Sky247.net Abu Dhabi ODI Series, UAE versus Ireland.

João Coimbra, Marketing Manager, Sky247.net said: “The UAE is a great market for cricket and we look forward to associating with many more tournaments as broadcasting partners.”
Ireland will stay on in the UAE after the four matches against UAE to take on Afghanistan in a three-match series.  Commenting on the tour in which they play seven matches in less just three weeks, Captain Andrew Balbirnie said: “Seven one-dayers within such a short span doesn't happen very often; so we're fortunate to get this opportunity. We will take each game and each day as it comes.”

Ireland skipper Andrew Balbirnie 

Ireland is here without their experienced players William Porterfield, Gary Wilson and Boyd Rankin. Wilson has been granted paternity leave to be present at the birth of his second child while some senior players including George Dockrell did not get picked. Their coach Graham Ford is planning to build the squad with a new generation of young players.
Commenting on the young players in the team, Balbirnie said: “It’s a great opportunity for some of our  young guys. The have been training really hard. What we want to see is them going out to express themselves in conditions that they're not used to back home.”.

The UAE-Ireland series will be day matches commencing from 9.30am. 

UAE squad:  Ahmed Raza (C), Chirag Suri (VC), Rohan Mustafa, Muhammad Usman, Muhammad Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind.
Ireland squad:  Andrew Balbirnie (c), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, David Delany, Gareth Delany, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, Kevin O'Brien, Neil Rock, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.