UAE suffer surprise defeat to Kuwait in Asia Cup

Gulf News

Supplied video  Mr. Cricket UAE Anis Sajan chats to Khurram Khan and Charvi Bhatt - both ex-captains of the UAE men’s and women’s team respectively – who feel that Kuwait were braver and played fearless cricket to stun the favourites UAE in their Asia Cup clash.  Read the full story here: https://gulfnews.com/sport/cricket/icc/uae-did-not-hold-their-nerve-against-kuwait-in-asia-cup-clash-1.90064426  See more videos at https://gulfnews.com/videos Read more Gulf News stories here: https://bit.ly/2HLJ2km  Subscribe to Gulf News on YouTube and watch more of our videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/GulfNewsTV  #UAEnews #cricketnews #asiacup2022

Transcript

00:00Assalam-o-Alaikum, good evening, namaskar, satsriyakaal to all the beautiful people of Dubai and around the world.

00:07Well, we had expected that UAE will romp through into the main games when they played the big boys.

00:15But they were stunned by a resurgent Kuwait in their first game by one wicket.

00:19To discuss, I have two captains. One is Khurram Khan, who is captain UAE.

00:24As well as I have Charvi Bhatt from the women's cricket team, who is captain of the UAE women's team.

00:29So, we will take their views, what happened yesterday and what they should do in the game going forward today.

00:33Welcome to the show, both of you guys.

00:36Thank you, Nisbhank.

00:38So, Khurram, you know, I was watching the game. I thought 180 on the board, good enough.

00:45But the scales totally tilted.

00:47Yeah, first of all, let me come back to the word you used, that you expect from..

00:54I think it's really hard to say. Because it's the margin between the teams, you know, it squeezes.

01:00Because less number of overs. So, you do one mistake, maximum two and you are done with the match.

01:05Either one good over, you know, few good hits and a batsman can get you through.

01:10Score was good, 173 I would say. It's good enough to, you know, save the match.

01:15But obviously, you know, it didn't happen in the end.

01:19I would say they didn't bowl well to, you know, stop the team.

01:25Record says that, you know, obviously, when we talk, we are going to talk about the records and previous history, how they performed.

01:31But it wasn't a meaner team. They were quite good.

01:34They can play cricket and they have shown it. They played very well.

01:37Right. Khurram says, unpredictable format, shorter game, anybody can beat.

01:44Some mistakes. Charvi, tell me, what are the mistakes they made?

01:48If you had to sum up in your way and what you watched the game.

01:52I think, you know, if I put it in just one line and it would be fair, UAE failed to hold on to their nerves.

01:59You know, you are taking the game all the way to the wire. It's gone all the way to the last ball.

02:05The least you can do, after you have done everything that you have in your textbook, hold on to your nerves.

02:11That's something that I think that they did not do. And hence, they gave the game away.

02:16And it's quite disappointing to see, you have brought it all the way down.

02:21It's one more ball to go and you didn't hold on to it.

02:24Because they gave away the boundary in the last.

02:26And that's the least that you could expect from a side with so much experience to do.

02:32I would just say that it's something that they did not do right. They did not hold on to their nerves.

02:36Alright. Khurram, I remember speaking in our first show yesterday that I told you that

02:44like winning is a habit, unfortunately, losing also becomes a habit.

02:48And you had mentioned that it might be on the back of the mind of the players.

02:53But having said that, when UAE were batting, they started out well. Chirag Suri laid a great platform.

02:59But they did not finish well. By 170, they could have added extra 15-20 runs.

03:06Definitely. 100%. As you mentioned first, it's a habit. You know, winning is a habit.

03:10If you are winning previous games, you just come back and you won a game from unexpected scenarios.

03:16And same thing when you are losing it. It always remains back of your mind that you are losing it.

03:22173. Yes, now we can say another 10-15 runs could have saved.

03:27But I think they played very well. I have to say, I quite think they played very well.

03:32You know, it's not a small target. 173. It's quite good.

03:37So, I think UAE, being more experienced team, have more exposure to these games.

03:43I think they could have played better cricket. One thing though I think I can say,

03:48I personally feel missing was, I do not see captain. You know, he didn't bat. He didn't

03:54bowl a single over. A new captain, obviously, there was pressure. But I think he has to

04:00show up somewhere. I was expecting him to bowl a few overs because in the past, he bowled very well.

04:05So, on the scorecard, I don't see him. And which tells me, being a new captain,

04:09you always wanted to make others happy. You know, listen, don't worry. I am here, bro.

04:16But yeah, when it comes to decision-making, I think he should have been there somewhere.

04:23You are right, Khurram. Charvi, I want to come to you. You have also been a captain.

04:27I want to add to what Khurram said. And you know, it's funny because as a captain,

04:33you want to become a larger group's favourite. You know, you don't want to be the one. You know,

04:38you don't want to be a captain who is the only one in the corner and everybody else is on the side.

04:42So, you want to become everyone's favourite. So, you are trying to please everybody.

04:46And in that battle, we forget the fact that we are leading a side. And there are some decisions

04:51that we have to take harshly. And I think that's probably what Rizwan Sipi has been the victim of,

04:58unfortunately. But we have to give him the benefit of the doubt. It's his first game, you know.

05:03And also, Asia Cup qualifier. So, we will have to give him the benefit of the doubt.

05:08I hope that he must have learnt. But let me come to you, Charvi. Like I was mentioning to Khurram

05:14that we started off well. Chirag Suri set the platform. And as Khurram said, 173 was a good

05:22scope. And T20, on a wicket where you are defending, where there is lots of dew, the 10-15 runs would

05:27have definitely made a difference. 100%. Another 10-15 runs on the board,

05:33it would have made a huge difference. We would have probably been sitting and discussing about

05:36a very different result today. But they stuck to 173. Unfortunate for Zawar Fareed and Basil

05:46Hamid who couldn't click. A couple of more runs from their bat would have… Those 10-15 runs

05:52that we talk about are so important in situations like this. We would have seen UAE win by 10 runs.

05:59That's what we would have seen the result to be. But here, Kuwait stole the show away completely.

06:05So, we forget the fact that there is an opposition as well that's creating a plan

06:09on how are they going to chase this total. What I also feel didn't happen was when you

06:15have a batsman who scored 88, you should have had somebody else around 50s or 60s.

06:21That's what a good partnership is about. The others are around their 30s and that's it.

06:26You don't have a 4th or 5th batsman who has come along and even hit 20 runs.

06:31Now, how do you create a combination where you've got somebody who supports Chirag Suri,

06:35who scored 88? That's where I would stand for.

06:41Fair point, Charvi. I want to talk about the post-match presentation before I come to the

06:48way UAE bowlers bowl. The captain mentioned a very valid point. I don't care

06:53whether my players score 70, 80, 60, 40. I am happy if everybody chips in with 20-5 and we win the game.

07:03I mean, yes. Everybody has to chip in because this kind of format, you know, it's very competitive.

07:07As I mentioned earlier, the smaller the overs come, whether it's 20 or 10 overs,

07:14it reduces that gap between the teams. So, in this kind of format, everybody has to chip in.

07:20Batting, I would say, yes, they batted very well. But what I can see is,

07:23Hrithik is one of the best batsmen. Don't get me wrong. He is one of the best batsmen in current

07:27UAE scenario. He played around 30-29 balls and scored 33 runs. Rather than saying that Basile

07:34came and Kashyap came, they got total 8 deliveries to play. So, they scored 7 or 8 runs in those.

07:39So, I think Hrithik could have, yes, if he needed more runs, that innings could have been little,

07:44you know, I would say 45-ish or 50 runs.

07:48Chirag played very well. I support him. There has to be another innings which can complement the

07:53score. But let's say now, future games. Now, I think it's a different scenario,

07:58qualifying. And I hope UAE can, you know, let the teams do what they have to do.

08:05Okay, but you know what? We can't let you guys so easily. Again, I want to come to you, Khurram.

08:12The point what I want to ask you. Like, I remember the commentators probably raising

08:17his voice to an extent that the guys are bowling too fast, not slowing down, not bowling their

08:22cutters. Because on this wicket, probably that was the need of the guy. That's what the guy who

08:26got couple of wickets, or rather three wickets. He did not give pace.

08:31One of the things there has to be someone telling them, since he is a new captain,

08:35as an under-bowler, they have to understand. The slower the wicket is, you have to bowl more slower.

08:39You cannot provide pace to the batsman. Because on a slower wicket, the batsman is looking for

08:44the pace to work it around easily. So, if you bowl at a slower pace on a slower, then it becomes

08:48really hard. Then it comes to the skills of the batsman. You know, where he can… For me,

08:52personally, if I would have been there, I would have been asking fast bowlers especially to,

08:56you know, just take off some pace, bowl cutters, you bowl… Yeah, those kind of ball.

09:00If I can see the scorecard here, in front of me, 90 runs given by fast bowlers in 10 overs.

09:06Obviously, it's almost half. But it's only one wicket, I think, they are sharing in 10 overs.

09:11One or two. So, that could have been a little bit better.

09:14Alright. Charvi, you know, we are talking about the playing. The match was actually in our pockets.

09:20Rather, I would say that we almost had the game when that Rostafar went for 20 runs,

09:25where he is known to bowl that fast Yorkers. And he almost… He went back into the game.

09:30But that momentum what Kuwait got, was from that or what do you say?

09:34Yeah, I would agree to that. Kuwait did… Yes, I would agree to that, sir. You know what I mean?

09:39They did get that momentum. And Kuram very rightly said that if we would be there on the field on any given day,

09:45given the conditions, bowl the slow ones, get your variations in.

09:49Bowling fast is a very simple mindset. The faster I bowl, the more fear will I build in the mind of the batsman.

09:57But that's not how it is. The faster you bowl, the more easier it becomes to score the runs.

10:02And a very few people understand that. And when you've got conditions of due,

10:06we've seen big teams as well make decisions where they bring in their slower bowlers,

10:11they get their fast bowlers as well to get those slow deliveries in.

10:15So, that's probably the mistake that they had. Yes, Rostafar came in, made that big difference.

10:20But he also gave away 40 runs. He picked up just one wicket.

10:24So, probably don't give him a full quota of four overs. Just the conditions.

10:29Probably, Rizwan Sipi could have come in and he would have bowled an over or two.

10:33You know, Ahmed Raza could have completed his quota of overs.

10:36Might have made a different scenario together. But I just feel that the pacers did give away way too many.

10:42They set the momentum. It was more like decorating it on a platter, here you go.

10:47Please go and score the runs. We are giving it to you.

10:49Kuram, would you have given last over to Ahmed Raza?

10:54Would you have taken that bet? The left-hander on batting?

10:59I think when it comes to last overs and the number of runs they had to score,

11:03I think it was nine or something, it's a hit or miss thing.

11:05You know, you can't be 100% sure that who's gonna save those runs.

11:09But obviously, being a captain, you have that gut feeling, you know,

11:13who's your best bowler and in those kind of conditions, you know, who can save your match.

11:18It could be anybody's guess. I would not bet for Ahmed Raza.

11:21Honestly, being a left-arm spinner and when you have these last batsmen, you know they are hitter.

11:26One wrong delivery, could have gone.

11:28But I think it shouldn't have come down to the last over, honestly.

11:31If we wanted to save games, it has to be, you know, in 13, 14, 15 overs,

11:35you have to set the tone there, save enough of runs,

11:38get, you know, enough wickets and you don't have to do the last over.

11:42In last over, it's anybody's game.

11:44I don't think CP did the wrong thing here.

11:47It could have been anyone, yeah. And anybody's guess, I would say.

11:51Chauvi, I can't help but say that Kuwait was going ahead and then giving us an opportunity

11:56to come back.

11:57Going ahead, giving us an opportunity.

11:59But we did not grab that.

12:01Do you agree, Chauvi?

12:03I absolutely agree.

12:03You know, it's more like that pendulum that keeps going back and forth.

12:07So, it was like that.

12:08Now, it's Kuwait's game.

12:09And then it came back to UAE's game.

12:11It went back to Kuwait's game.

12:12And it happened so many times within the span of those 20 overs.

12:17It was really amazing to see why somebody is not grabbing on to it.

12:21Like, no, we are just going to keep this to my side.

12:24Why is somebody not holding on to that?

12:26And I think that's what happened throughout the game.

12:28It happened throughout the game yesterday.

12:31Well, you are right.

12:33Absolutely right.

12:34The match was so good that it went down all the way to the wire.

12:38But unfortunately, it was Kuwait who finally got the monkey of the back and beat UAE.

12:44So, Khurram, now, what does UAE do?

12:46They have nothing but to win two games.

12:48What would you advise them in the next two games?

12:50Rather, in two hours, they are taking on Singapore.

12:54Yeah, I think the thing is obviously, which is not easy to do,

12:58is forget whatever happens because you can't change it.

13:00Now, think about the next game.

13:02Problem here is UAE don't only have to win the game.

13:05They have to win with a margin.

13:09Because I am thinking now, what the scenario is going to create,

13:11the three teams will be coming up with the same number of wins.

13:14This is what I am thinking.

13:15Because Kuwait, they already won.

13:16They have a match with Singapore.

13:17And I think they have shown they are quite good enough team

13:19that they can beat a team like Singapore.

13:23Again, T20.

13:24But Hong Kong, again, a tough match.

13:27So, now, they are three contenders.

13:28Let's be honest.

13:31They haven't started.

13:32They lost the game.

13:33UAE lost the game.

13:34But now, if UAE want to qualify, they have…

13:36This is three, you know, triangular now.

13:38So, whoever performs well, they have to score more runs.

13:41Win the bigger margin.

13:43They have to go all out.

13:44Let me tell you.

13:45They have to play aggressive cricket.

13:46You have to have a character.

13:47You cannot just set every game different character.

13:50No, you have to have a character that you are going to play aggressive.

13:53And you are going to go out and try to win the game.

13:55Rather than trying to, oh, if that happens, it doesn't happen.

13:58No, just go with an open mind and then do the best you can.

14:01I think, be aggressive.

14:03Be aggressive.

14:03That's it.

14:06Shari, your advice to UAE team with two games.

14:09And now, as Khurram said, what you would like to say?

14:13Well, I second.

14:14Absolutely second him.

14:16If I think I was in Rizwan Sippy's shoes at this point of time, let's go all guns blazing.

14:23Let's use every strength and every trump card that we have in our pocket.

14:28And let's go and put it out there.

14:30And have the certain determination.

14:32And at least from the body language show, we are here to win.

14:36We are going to win this game and we are going to steal it away from you.

14:38And that's the approach that they need to have.

14:42Have your right batting lineup.

14:44Get all your strength cards right up there.

14:46Use your best of bowlers.

14:48Don't be in the situation where I'm going to please this bowler.

14:53I'm going to please that bowler.

14:54No.

14:55The bowler is getting hit for runs.

14:56Whether it's one over, that bowler is bowling.

14:58Please change over.

15:00Get somebody else on board who can pick up those wickets.

15:03All right.

15:04So both the captains say that UAE have nothing to fear.

15:09Go for, you know, go and play aggressive brand of cricket.

15:13And I still believe, you know, I don't know, like Kurram said,

15:16that it's going to be a three-way, two matches win if Kuwait blip.

15:20And UAE can still make it.

15:22But that margin, that net run rate is going to finally boil down.

15:26And that last match against Hong Kong.

15:27So we'll have to hope and hope for the best.

15:30But thank you very much, guys.

15:31It was wonderful having you guys once again and giving your insight.

15:35And I'm sure all the fans, all of us, Kurram, Charvi, me and everybody in UAE

15:39will be hoping that UAE will bounce back and will come back,

15:42Inshallah, when we discuss tomorrow for the next game.

15:46Thank you, guys.

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