Anis Sajan talks with former UAE captains Khurram Khan and Charvi Bhatt on the team’s chances in the qualifiers. Both former skippers agreed that UAE, who have qualified for the Twenty20 World Cup, as the favourites. They also discussed on new UAE skipper CP Rizwan and his batting prowess while also identifying Vriitya Aravind and Muhammed Waseem as the key batters.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Assalam-o-Alaikum, good evening, namaskar, satsriyakaal.
00:04Welcome to all of you to another episode of Cricket Unplugged.
00:07With the Asia Cup starting today, rather the qualifiers starting today,
00:11we have two stars who are with us in the show.
00:15One is Khurram Khan. Khurram Khan has played for the men's UAE cricket team.
00:20And then we have Charvi Butt, who is also captain of the women's UAE team.
00:24So discuss about UAE, how they are going to go about their campaign in this Asia Cup.
00:29Welcome to both of you guys. Welcome, Khurram first.
00:32Thank you. Nice to be in the show. Thank you, Nizbhai.
00:35Welcome, Charvi.
00:36Thank you, sir. Thank you very much. Yet again, an absolute pleasure to be here with you.
00:41Well, the pleasure is all mine, you know, having two captains of UAE team.
00:45And you'll have done so well for your teams in your days.
00:49So let me come to you, Khurram. You know, this Asia Cup, this is a golden opportunity for UAE
00:54before the big World Cup where they've already qualified.
00:59Assalamu alaikum. Yes, Nizbhai, I think it's a wonderful opportunity because
01:03if they manage to win the, you know, the first part of this tournament,
01:07they'll be, you know, locking their holes with the giants of international cricket,
01:12India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. So I think it's a wonderful opportunity.
01:16Recent past teams been doing well. So I think we can keep our fingers crossed.
01:21There are chances definitely that they can qualify and play the big teams.
01:25Charvi, let me come to you. You know, there are four teams who are going to lock horns against each other
01:29to then, you know, go ahead and clash with the big boys.
01:33That is Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuwait and our UAE team.
01:37How do you see UAE team when you compare yourself to the Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuwait team?
01:44To be very honest, I won't be sugarcoating this, but as directly as I can say this,
01:49and I think Khurram will agree with me as well, that I think UAE has got big chances.
01:54And they've got a very, very good chance to make it to the next level.
01:58You know, it's all about in that moment, making sure that they grab that opportunity.
02:03And on that particular day that they play their best on all the games,
02:07on all their game days that they're going to be playing in.
02:10Because UAE team in the recent past has done exceptionally well.
02:14The amount of exposure that they have gotten also with the foreign tours
02:18will have, they will have their chips up on their shoulders.
02:22So hoping to see at their best in all their games.
02:28All right.
02:30Charvi says UAE team has been doing well off late.
02:33But I want to ask Khurram in the last trip, recent trip now to you, you know,
02:38where they lost to Scotland and USA.
02:40They couldn't win a single game.
02:42And in the earlier, they won two out of four.
02:44So even though that was a 50-over game, will that be at the back of the mind, Khurram?
02:49I think you have to say, yeah, these losses, you know, they're always back of your mind
02:53because you recently concluded this 50-over tournament.
02:57Conditions always, you know, in Scotland, they're not that easy.
03:00I would have suggested them to be there a little earlier, you know,
03:03at least play two, three side games before they get into these main games.
03:07Because now that WCL is very important where UAE team is currently positioned,
03:13I think it's going to be quite tough to qualify.
03:16Obviously, it's not that they cannot, but it's now three or four teams.
03:20It's going to be on the same point level.
03:22I can see Namibia. I can see USA, UAE.
03:24I think they'll be knocking on to qualify for the one or two positions for the WCL.
03:30Coming back to Asia Cup, obviously, it's a 20-over format.
03:33It's completely different.
03:35And if you see recent past, I think you've been doing very well.
03:39There are some, you know, players who've been exceptionally well.
03:43I would say Vritia, I would say Wasim, you know, batting.
03:47So, it looks a great team.
03:49And we recently have a change of captain as well.
03:51So, Rizwan CP is leading the team.
03:53So, let's hope, you know, it's going to be a good change.
03:55And let's see the results. Yeah.
03:58Charvi, have you seen CP Rizwan playing or have you followed his cricket?
04:03Multiple times.
04:04Over the years, yes.
04:05In the domestic league, covered a lot of games.
04:08Over live streaming while he was representing, you know, the domestic side.
04:13So, seen him play for over the years.
04:15And I think this is going to be a great platform for him as well.
04:19And a testing one to that.
04:21To see how he's going to showcase himself as personally with his skill.
04:27Also, as a captain, how he's going to lead the side.
04:29So, it's going to be… Time will tell how he's going to do.
04:32But hoping that, you know, both the tags that he's got on his shoulder,
04:37they bring back a good result for the side.
04:41Alright. Charvi says CP Rizwan should be able to do the job.
04:47Khurram, I want to come to you.
04:49You know, under the earlier captain, Raza Ahmed.
04:52Raza, they had qualified for the World Cup in Oman where they beat everybody almost there.
04:58They beat, I remember, the big team Ireland.
05:01They beat Oman.
05:02They beat almost everybody.
05:04Bearing one game, I think they lost.
05:06And now the sudden change in captainship, even though we are just near the World Cup.
05:13Right call made by the management?
05:18I think it's… Yeah, it's a little question mark here.
05:22Because if you see Ahmed Raza's result in T20 format, I think…
05:26What I was checking, he's played 27-1, 18.
05:29So, this is not a bad result at all.
05:31It's been very good.
05:32And they have removed him from captaincy from T20 version.
05:37Although the team just came back from Scotland not doing very well.
05:40So, I think I'm kind of mixed up.
05:42I don't know why it happened.
05:44You know, the change is that the performance…
05:46UA just came back was 50 over.
05:48And then they retained him as a captain for 50 over.
05:50But they replaced him for 20 over format.
05:53I don't want to go into blame game.
05:55But I think there are few things UA needs to sort out.
05:57Because team currently, if you see, they are kind of stagnant in the position.
06:02You don't see them going up.
06:04You see performance for a short period of time, a month or so, or 15 days.
06:08You see they suddenly start playing good cricket.
06:10And then, you know, it's just coming back.
06:12So, I think there are few things need to be fixed there.
06:15But Chavi, you have been playing cricket for the women's team.
06:18You have been a captain.
06:19Imagine if you or anybody as a captain who has been replaced
06:23just before a mega event.
06:26Rather, the World Cup is the mega event.
06:28But the Asia Cup happening at your home.
06:29And like Khurram mentioned, he has won 18 out of 27 games.
06:35Sir, I think I have lost your audio.
06:37Okay, I will repeat again.
06:39I will repeat to my question, Chavi.
06:42Can you hear me now?
06:43Yes, loud and clear.
06:45Khurram mentioned about Ahmed Raza's record, 27 games, 18 wins.
06:50And with the mega event World Cup just happening in two months' time
06:53and the Asia Cup just happening in few days' time.
06:56You are replacing the captain.
06:57Giving the right signal?
07:00Maybe not, to be very honest.
07:01And I agree with Khurram.
07:04Because we both have been in similar situations where, you know,
07:08the switch instantly happens before a major tournament.
07:12It's not justified.
07:13Rather, you ask me.
07:15We would rather stick to the same, have some consistency.
07:18You know, teams win with consistency, not with switches like such big ones.
07:24But I feel…
07:27Go ahead, Khurram.
07:29Yeah, I think more than his captaincy, probably what I think…
07:33Okay, I could be wrong.
07:34That his position could be, you know, in under T20.
07:39That could be maybe, you know, a question for Voda.
07:41That's why I think they took that decision.
07:43Now, since he is not captain, it's probably be easier to, you know,
07:45play a left-arm spinner where they should be representing all the matches or not.
07:48So, I think they are coming from that point of view.
07:51So, let's see.
07:53Alright.
07:54So, Khurram says, probably, maybe they are not sure about whether he can
07:57guarantee a place for himself in the squad.
08:00They replaced Rizwan.
08:02Now, tell us more about Rizwan, Khurram.
08:04You know him more closer than anybody else.
08:07I have seen him domestic.
08:08I think he is a wonderful batsman.
08:10He is a beautiful, classic, you know, batsman.
08:13What I have seen over the years from him.
08:15And he is…
08:16Although we have seen him bowling in tandem very…
08:19Not regularly.
08:20But he is a useful bowler.
08:22I have seen him bowling sometimes.
08:23And he always takes wickets.
08:25So, but what's currently and what's recent past, if you go…
08:29I have seen is that these bowlers…
08:31Like Basil is bowling.
08:32And then CP is bowling.
08:34So, they are bowling one or two overs in a T20 match.
08:36So, if you have two batsmen who can bowl two over each.
08:39You know, if they are bowling one or two sometimes.
08:41So, why can't they bowl two over each?
08:43And then you have a place for a batsman to be included in the team.
08:46I personally think that's how the board is looking at the team currently now.
08:50So, if they exclude one of the spinners, they can add another batsman.
08:54Another all-rounder in the team, you know.
08:56Obviously, Ahmadis are mainly left-arm orthodox.
09:00So, they can put a more batting-dominant player in the team.
09:05Alright.
09:07Charvi, you know, we discussed about it.
09:10That off late, their 50-over performance was not up to the mark.
09:15As much as I would love to discuss about the 50-over.
09:17But I still want to go on to the 20-over cricket.
09:20UA's record in T20 has not been bad.
09:23I mean, I will be very honest.
09:24Compared to the teams which has been, you know, playing like the Oman's and all.
09:29UA has been doing fairly well.
09:32And that is one format which they love to play, if I am not wrong.
09:35So, if you had to, you know, pick a few guys who you feel will be,
09:41the guys who would be your players to watch out from UAE?
09:47To be very honest, I would pick two.
09:49One, Hrithya, for sure.
09:51And the other would be Sultan.
09:55It would be two of those who would be to look out for.
10:00Hrithya's form, we have seen over a period of time.
10:03Very, very promising youngster.
10:05He's not, yes, he's got a few performances where he's not done very well.
10:10But at the same time, he's also, he hasn't failed to impress.
10:14There have been times when he's really impressed.
10:16He's gone out there, stood out there for his side, gotten those runs.
10:19And, you know, taken the team to the other end, just with his own ability.
10:25So, obviously, we do know what he could, what he is capable of.
10:30And Sultan would be another player that I would be looking at,
10:33you know, because of the experience that he comes along with.
10:36Alright. Khurram, I know about Hrithya, that he's a one-down batsman
10:41and he's done recently well. On and off, he's had poor scores.
10:44But tell us more about Sultan, Ahmed.
10:46Sultan, mainly, I think he's included in the team,
10:51what I think is for his left-arm spin, obviously.
10:53You know, he can hit a few balls as well.
10:55He can score some runs as well.
10:56But mainly, it's bowling.
10:57You know, if you see Ahmed Raza, let's say, compare.
11:01So, for T20 version, I think Sultan has played, you know,
11:05he's been represented PSL, he's been in all the leagues in UAE.
11:08So, he's a very seasoned player.
11:10And left-arm left spinner, again.
11:12But he doesn't only spin the ball, you know, he's got a good straighter one.
11:16I think it's probably more useful in shorter version.
11:19That's why they have included him.
11:21Another player, as I think Shavi mentioned, Hrithya once.
11:24Hrithya once.
11:25Yeah, he's great.
11:26But I think Wasim Ahmed in T20.
11:28Wasim is very important.
11:29He's, you know, two players who can win the games for UAE.
11:34That's how I look at it, I think.
11:36Wasim and Hrithya.
11:37You're talking about Mohamed Wasim is the guy who scored the 100
11:40in the finals against Ireland, right?
11:42Yeah.
11:43Apart from Hrithya, Wasim, anybody else in the batting order,
11:47you see them, you know, doing well?
11:52I think batting order, if you look at now, I think it looks,
11:55let's say, the middle order is quite strong.
11:59But recent, I would say, since they haven't performed very well in Scotland.
12:03But again, going back, it's a 50-over version.
12:06And completely different conditions.
12:08Now, there will be Oman and UAE, I think, in similar condition.
12:11So, they'll be playing back here.
12:12And they've played a lot of cricket in Oman.
12:14So, I would say, you know, captain, CP Rizwan.
12:16Again, I think he'll probably be changing his number since he's captain now.
12:21Basel is there, another middle order.
12:23Chirag Suri, I think a wonderful pair.
12:25And I think it's time that he needs to, you know, stand up and do again very well.
12:30Recently, in Scotland, he didn't do that well as I would have expected him to do.
12:35So, hopefully, this tournament, I think it's for him another chance to prove himself.
12:41Charvi, like Kuruv mentioned about a few players.
12:44And I just recently interviewed Sikandar Raza,
12:46who was in the form of his life in his recent matches against Bangladesh,
12:50as well as the qualifiers for the World Cup.
12:52He mentioned a very important point that if you are able to play red ball cricket,
12:57then you can do well in the white ball cricket.
13:00You also added that if you play 50-overs cricket well,
13:03you can do well in a 20-over cricket.
13:05So, what is wrong with the UAE cricket team
13:08that they are not able to consistently do well in 50-overs cricket?
13:12Perhaps it's the lack of 50-over games that they play across through the year.
13:17Okay, I think Kuruv agrees.
13:19It's the lack of… You know, you tend to play shorter formats.
13:22And now, I will not blame this to a certain system.
13:25But I would say that it could be because of weather conditions.
13:28Our cricket-friendly months across the year in the UAE are very short.
13:32Mostly, people enjoy T20 cricket.
13:35People prefer playing T20 cricket.
13:37UAE team, men's side in particular,
13:40they don't play a lot of 50-over cricket.
13:42And hence, their performance being the way that it is in 50-over games.
13:47However, the upcoming, what they have is T20.
13:51And hopefully, we would be able to see them in a much better stature.
13:55But, you know, this is a message that goes out to say,
13:59give them more experience with 50-over cricket.
14:01They need to know how to spend those 4-5 hours out there in the field.
14:07They need to know how much resilience they need to show with the 50-over game.
14:12So, hence, I think it's the lack of games that they are given to them.
14:16And you know, that's a clear indication of why.
14:19Kuruv, three teams, Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuwait.
14:24Tougher team out of you or the lot?
14:27I think Hong Kong.
14:30If you keep the records, they are the best of this lot.
14:34You know, Singapore, last five games they played, they lost.
14:38And I don't think Kuwait will have a different result as well.
14:41So, Hong Kong is the team.
14:42I think they have good players.
14:44But recent past, honestly, Hong Kong has not been doing very well.
14:47So, I think a very fair chance for UAE to just, you know, sweep through here.
14:52And go for the next round.
14:54So, are we, according to you, Kuruv says it's going to be Hong Kong?
14:58I will back his answer as well.
15:01I think Hong Kong is the top side in this particular group.
15:05And even though they have not been doing very well, they are a good side.
15:09They've qualified for the next level.
15:10I think a couple of times they have.
15:12They have gone and played Asia Cup, you know, maybe twice, if I'm not mistaken, in the past.
15:18So, they would, you know, if they've got some players from that squad, the experience will play for them.
15:25And no matter, you know, how much we say how skillful a player is or how talented a player is, at the end of the day,
15:31in tough situations, it's experience that pulls you out of that and takes you to the other side.
15:36So, Hong Kong is definitely the tough one.
15:38However, we would want, you know, UAE does have a lot of chances to make it.
15:43And we would hope to see that, you know, a flag does come down.
15:47And, you know, it's up there in the stadiums in UAE when the Asia Cup gets played.
15:53Both of them say Hong Kong is the tough team which UAE will probably face in Oman.
15:59And mind you, the last game of that league qualifiers is against Hong Kong.
16:04So, imagine Hong Kong winning two games, UAE winning two games.
16:08So, it's as good as a final to qualify for the Asia Cup, Khurram.
16:11Yeah, I think. But, you know, taking into that, UAE has been a seasoned cricket.
16:16They've been playing very well.
16:17And this patch of cricketers, you don't see, you know, only one or two newcomers.
16:21And the newcomers are, if you say, Aryan Lakraman, he's not new.
16:24He's been in the system from under-14, under-16, 19.
16:27And then now in the national team, same thing with the under-19 captain.
16:31And Fahad is there as well.
16:33So, I think it's quite seasoned.
16:34And rest of the players, they've been playing for at least 10 years in UAE.
16:37So, I think these matches you play day in, day out.
16:40So, one or two pressure games, you know, it's not much.
16:44But I think the way they are performing in T20, they have to keep their performances up.
16:48And they have to, you know, show that they are good enough to play this Asia Cup.
16:52Shall we? The last match against Hong Kong.
16:55As I believe it should be without taking anything away from Kuwait and Singapore.
16:59And we hope UAE will do well.
17:02You're banking UAE to beat them?
17:04Hands down, yes.
17:06You know, always in support of the side that you've represented.
17:09You know, I'm looking forward to seeing the boys do really well out there.
17:13And yes, I think it's going to be a UAE-Hong Kong final.
17:17The last game is with Hong Kong. So, it's going to be like a final.
17:20Hoping that UAE would have two wins before that.
17:23And you know, it will be the battle between the two to see who's going to come through.
17:27But backing them, yes, definitely.
17:30All our best wishes to the boys.
17:33So, alright, boys and girls.
17:35Ladies and gentlemen, we have these two stars of UAE cricket.
17:38Kurram Khan as well as Charvi Bhatt.
17:41Both captains of their respective men's and women's team.
17:44And they are backing UAE.
17:45And they hope and they're confident that UAE is going to get past Hong Kong, Kuwait and Singapore.
17:50And make it to the Asia Cup, which is happening in UAE.
17:53And mind you, both of these stars are going to be with us throughout this Asia Cup.
17:57Which is going to happen once the big boys and the qualifiers are done.
18:01So, we hope to catch you guys once again.
18:03Thank you very much for your time.
18:04And looking forward to, you know, seeing you soon.
18:07Thank you, sir. Thank you very much.
18:09Bye-bye. Take care.
18:10Thank you. Bye-bye.
18:14For more information visit www.fema.gov