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Pakistan play their home games in the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf side’s XI features a majority of expats born in Pakistan. So it will be like two ‘home’ teams playing each other when Pakistan face the UAE in a World Cup Pool B game in Napier on Wednesday, not that there will be any camaraderie once the players take the field. The UAE team have nine players in their 15-man squad either born in Pakistan or of Pakistani origin, with football generally more popular among the host community than cricket. [caption id=“attachment_2134037” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Pakistan play their home games in the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf side’s XI features a majority of expats born in Pakistan. AFP[/caption] Census figures from 2013 show the UAE’s total population at 9.2 million, of which 1.4 million are Emirati citizens and 7.8 million are expatriates, mostly from Pakistan and India. Several fringe Pakistani cricketers who made a name for themselves at first-class level but could not break into the national set-up have found in the UAE a place to realise their dreams of international cricket. UAE veteran Khurram Khan is a case in point. A left-handed batsman of immense talent, the 43-year-old Khurram failed to make it beyond the regional team in Multan and finally migrated to the UAE. Meanwhile Shaiman Anwar is from Sialkot, while wicketkeeper Saqlain Haider hails from Rawalpindi and Nasir Aziz is a Karachiite. Fast-rising Rohan Mustafa is from Kohat in the North-West Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region and Amjad Ali is from Lahore, one of Pakistan’s great cricket centres. But all of them are part-time players who earn their livings away from the game, with several working for Emirati airlines. The 35-year-old Anwar is the toast of the UAE team right now after hitting 67 in their first Pool B game against Zimbabwe and then notching the team’s first ever World Cup hundred in the match against Ireland. “Pakistan has had a huge impact on the UAE,” said UAE-based journalist Paul Radley. “Now they have former Pakistan paceman Aaqib Javed as their coach and under him the team has improved, with many players of Pakistani origin.” Now efforts to attract local Emiratis are starting to pay dividends, with Dubai-born Mohammad Tauqir captaining the UAE at the World Cup. “We’re starting an academy,” Aaqib told Wisden India. “In our top 30, there are six locals. There are three in the top 18 and two in the 15. “Why will a local boy support his team when it’s not doing well? It’s important for us to do well so that locals are attracted to the game.” Cricket links between Pakistan and the UAE were strengthened once Pakistan became a “no-go” area for international teams in the wake of attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009. Since then grounds in the Gulf state have staged the bulk of Pakistan’s ‘home’ matches. Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq acknowledged the UAE’s support by saying: “UAE is very important for us, whatever we did in the last four years, UAE has played a big part by giving us grounds to clean-sweep England, Australia and beat Sri Lanka,” said Misbah, who once played league cricket in the Gulf. AFP
World Cup, Pakistan vs UAE as it happened: Pakistan overpower UAE by 129 runs
Pakistan play their home games in the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf side’s XI features a majority of expats born in Pakistan.
 "World Cup, Pakistan vs UAE as it happened: Pakistan overpower UAE by 129 runs")
Shahid Afridi now involve in 216 ODI wins, the most by a Pakistani player in ODIs, beating Inzamam-ul-Haq (215). #PAKvUAE #CWC15
— Cricket Records (@cricinfo_record) March 4, 2015
Pakistan beat UAE by 129 runs.
UAE did well to surpass 200, at one stage it looked a distant affair. The Swapnil-Javed partnership went on and on and that could have hampered Pakistan’s run rate. All in all, it was a comprehensive performance from Pakistan. Misbah will be pretty relieved, they are back on track. The batsmen, led by Shehzad (93), Haris Sohail (70) and the skipper himself Misbah (65) propeled Pakistan to a huge total of 339. In reply UAE top order faltered and they were back in the hut inside 10 overs. Khurram Khan (43) and Shaiman Anwar (62) tried to rebuild but with the run rate consistently climbing up, they couldn’t do much and perished looking to up the ante. Swapnil and Javed then tortured Pakistan with some lusty hitting as they added 68 from 10.5 overs. Pakistan got a couple of late wickets but they may rue the fact that they weren’t able to bowl UAE out early.
After 46 overs, UAE 185/6 (Swapnil 29, Javed 23)
Javed hammers Sohail Khan for 21 runs in the over. He at first hammers it straight back for a four then clobbers it over long on for six, he then slaps it over covers for a four and then sends it sailing over cow corner for a 99 m maximum. Something to cheer about for the UAE fans.
After 45 overs, UAE 164/6 (Swapnil 28, Javed 3)
Wahab is in midst of a very good spell. He’s beaten Swapnil on his cut and dab, again and again and again. He’s getting good zip and bounce. Swapnil finally manages to get bat on ball as he cuts one uppishly through backward point for a boundary and he again looks to cut the next ball but misses. 19 runs in the last five overs. 176 needed off 30 balls.
True bowler's perspective by @wasimakramlive - "i won't be confident as a bowler with NasirJamshed at backward point" #PAKvUAE
— cricketnarc (@NitinUppot) March 4, 2015
After 40 overs UAE 145/6 ( Swapnil 15, Javed 0)
The loss of Anwar has hurt UAE badly and then they lost Mustafa for a duck. They managed judt 14/2 in the Batting Powerplay. Pakistan will relieved that Afridi is amongst the wickets. Rahat Ali and Wahab Riaz too have done a good job so far. Pakistan need to make sure they bundle out UAE early in order to boost their run rate.
OUT! Afridi has two in one over and he is delighted! Rohan Mustafa c Ahmed Shehzad b Shahid Afridi 0 (2b 0x4 0x6). After 38.3 overs, UAE 140/6 (Swapnil 12)
He beat Mustafa with a fast googly the earlier ball, this time Mustafa gets down and slog sweeps it straight to the square leg fielder. Afridi can’t believe it.
Amjad Javed is the new batsman.
OUT! Finally, Finally, Afridi has a wicket! Shaiman Anwar c Nasir Jamshed b Shahid Afridi 62 (88b 4×4 2×6). After 38.1 overs, UAE 140/5 (Swapnil 12)
It’s a googly from Afridi, tossed up on off, Anwar looks to go down town but doesn’t get the timing right. He ends up mistiming it to long off and Jamshed holds on to a catch. Finally things falling into place for Pakistan – Afridi has a wicket and Jamshed holds on to a catch.
Rohan Mustafa is the new batsman.
In Napier Shaiman Anwar becomes only the 3rd Associate player to score 250+ runs at a World Cup #PAKvUAE
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) March 4, 2015
After 35 overs, UAE 131/4 (Anwar 59, Swapnl 6)
Khurram may have departed but Anar has continued with his free flowing approach. He at first pulls Haris through mid-wicket for a boundary to get to his fifty and then lofts one over extra cover for another boundary. 22 runs off the last five overs. Afridi is n danger of going wicketless again. He has figures of 7-0-31-0. Anwar would be looking to attack in the Batting Powerplay.
FIFTY for Anwar!
Anwar gets to his fifty off 75 balls. And that too in style as he pulls one through mid-wicket for a boundary. Three fours in his innigns so far. It’s his fourth fifty plus score in ODIs. He continues his great run in the tournament.
After 30 overs UAE 109/4 ( Anwar 42, Swapnil 1)
Maqsood, Afridi and Sohail Khan – an all spin attack employed now. Afridi is not getting any hint of drift. Both the batsmen looks to play big shorts but they went straight to the fielder. Anwar finally gets one off the middle and hammers it over long off for a six off Maqsood. He then gets down and slog sweeps Haris over square leg for a boundary. Just when it looked as if the batsmen will up the ante, Khurram suffered a soft dismissal. He will be disappointed with himself as he’s been getting starts but isn’t carrying on! 20 runs and a wicket off the last five overs.
OUT! Maqsood strikes! Khurram Khan c Wahab Riaz b Sohaib Maqsood 43 (54b 3×4 1×6). After 29.2 overs, UAE 108/3 (Anwar 42)
A soft dismissal for Khurram. Maqsood is having a good time. 70 with the bat and now a wicket. He bowls it full on off, Khurram gets down for a slog sweep but helps it straight into the hands of Wahab at square leg. Khurram played well for his 43!
Swapnil Patil is the new batsman.
After 25 overs, UAE 89/3 ( Khurram 38, Anwar 29)
Anwar brings up the 50-run stand with Khurram and then Khurram pulls one over long leg off Wahab for a flat maximum. Afridi hasn’t got his lengths right and has been very short. He’s been milked for runs while Wahab has been tight with his lines. He bowls a maiden too. 19 runs off the last five overs!
After 20 overs, UAE 70/3 (Khurram 27, Anwar 21)
Khurram and Anwar rebuilding here. Khurram survives as he nearly chops one on off Wahab. Afridi is brought on to bowl early and Khurram punches one off the back foot off him for a boundary. These two have rotated the strike pretty well and scored at close to six runs an over. 28/0 in the last five overs. Afridi not looking really threatening.
After 15 overs, UAE 42/3 (Khuram 10, Anwar 11)
UAE gaining some momentum. Khurram, at first, cracks at cut through point for a boundary off Rahat and then after three quiet overs, Anwar launches an attack on Sohail as he punches one through point for four and then slashes one over the same region for an outrageous six. 17/0 in the last five overs.
After 10 overs, UAE 25/3 (Khurram 4, Anwar 0)
Just when Amjad Ali was looking good, Rahat Ali took his wicket in his first over. He had hit a coupel of fours off Sohail, One off a straight drive and another off a pull to fine leg. But then Rahat removed him and then Sohail Khan removed Berenger with a lovely outsinger. There was a huge LBW shout against Khurram but the umpire turned it down, Misbah lost out on the time required to review it. Sohail, who has bwled pretty well so far, then has the wicket of Krishna.
OUT! Another one bites the dust! Krishna Chandran c Umar Akmal b Sohail Khan 0 (11b 0x4 0x6). After 10 overs, UAE 25/3
It’s full outside off from Sohail, and swinging away sharply. Krishna goes for a booming drive but is done in by the late swing. He gets an outside edge and Umar Akmal pouches a diving catch. An Akmal taking a diving catch!
Shaiman Anwar is the new batsman.
OUT! Now both the openers are back in the hut! AR Berenger c Umar Akmal b Sohail Khan 2 (13b 0x4 0x6). aFTER 7.3 OVERS, UAE 19/2 (Krishna 2)
Full delivery from Sohail, outside off, it tails away late and draws Berenger into a drive . He gets an outside edge to the keeper who MAKES NO MISTAKE. This is a good start from the Pakistan openers but UAE have been too cautious.
Khurram Khan is the new batsman.
OUT! Rahat draws first blood! Amjad Ali b Rahat Ali 14 (30b 2×4 0x6). After 6.4 overs, UAE 19/1 (Berenger 2)
Length delivery outside off, swinging away late, Amjad is caught in two minds whether to play or let go. In the end he looks to shoulder arms very late, the ball takes the inside edge of the bat and crashes onto the stumps.
Krishna Karate is the new batsman.
After 5 overs, UAE 6/0 ( Amjad 4, Berenger 1)
The first over from Irfan loked unplayable as it zipped through at a very good pace. Amjad Ali did well to make sure he played out most of the over and take a single. Sohail Khan didn’t look threatening but the UAE openers have been pretty cautious. Irfan is getting decent swing and bounce. Irfan beat Berenger’s outside edge on the drive on a couple of occasions. They have been extra cautious.
Pakistan have posted 339/6!
A very good batting effort from Pakistan and this is their second highest total in World Cups. Pakistan scored 71/2 in the last five overs. Misbah and Umar at first went berserk and then Shahid Afridi blasted 21 off 7 with two sixes and one four. Wahab joined the party with one six. Pakistan hit 20 runs in the last over. In the last 10 overs, Pakistan scored 124 runs. This was a much-needed confidence booster for them!
OUT! Misbah’s fine knock ends. Guruge gets 2 in 2. Misbah-ul-Haq c Rohan Mustafa b Guruge 65 (68m 49b 4×4 2×6). After 48.3 overs, Pakistan 312/6
Full from Guruge, Misbah looks to blast it over long on but doesn’t connect well and holes out to long on. A fine innigns comes to an end.
Wahab Riaz is the enw batsman.
OUT! Akmal departs! Umar Akmal c Amjad Ali b Guruge 19 (13b 1×4 1×6) . After 48.3 overs, Pakistan 312/5
Guruge drifts it onto Akmal’s pads, the latter flicks it powerfully but straight to deep square leg where Amjad takes a very good catch.
Shahid Afridi is the new batsman.
FIFTY for Misbah!
Misbah gets to his 50 off just 39 balls. After all the criticism of Slow approach against Zimbabwe, Misbah silences his critics going at a strike rate of 128. 3 fours and 2 sixes in his innings so far.
After 45 overs, Pakistan 268/4 (Misbah 41, Umar Akmal 7)
Pakistan attacking now. Misbah and Maqsood upped the ante before Maqsood departed. Misbah at first launches one over long on for a six off Krishna and then Maqsood hammers it straight back which smashes the commentary box. Misbah then whips one over long leg off Guruge for a flat six and then Maqsood follows up with a straight six. Guruge strikes next ball to remove Maqsood. Misbah then sweeps one of Mustafa for a boundary. Umar Akmal joins the party as he whips one through square leg for a four. 53/1 in the last 5 overs.
OUT! Maqsood departs! Sohaib Maqsood c Rohan Mustafa b Guruge 45 (31b 4×4 2×6). After 43 overs, Pakistan 251/4 (Misbah 33)
It’s a tad full outside off from Guruge, Maqsood slashes it to point where Mustafa takes it on his chest, juggles and pouches it on the fourth attempt. A fine innings comes to an end.
Umar Akmal is the new batsman.
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