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UAE cricket coach Paul Franks is optimistic of the resurgence of the teams performance.
UAE cricket coach Paul Franks is optimistic of the resurgence of the team's performance.

Dubai - Franks, 37, agreed that the UAE team went down the hill in 2015. Against the mighty Test sides, they failed to win a single game at the World Cup Down Under.

By KT Report

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Published: Tue 12 Jul 2016, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Wed 13 Jul 2016, 11:48 AM

After a slight dip in their fortunes, UAE cricket saw a turnaround at the beginning of this year with an unbeaten record in the 2016 Asia Cup (T20) Qualifier in Bangladesh and a win over Ireland. And, the newly appointed 'stand-in' coach Paul Franks reckons that the team will keep rolling forward in coming months.
"When on the roll, the UAE cricket never stops at any station," said Franks, who has been given charge of the UAE cricket team by the Emirates Cricket Board for the tour of Scotland from August 9. The UAE will play the hosts in a four-day Intercontinental Cup match from Aug. 9 to 12 at Mannofield Park in Aberdeen, and play two WCL games - with full ODI status - on Aug. 14 and 16 at the same ground.
Franks, 37, agreed that the UAE team went down the hill in 2015. Against the mighty Test sides, they failed to win a single game at the World Cup Down Under. Then, the UAE team won only one out of the six matches at the ICC World T20 qualifier in Ireland.
That was the low point. However, under Amjad Javed's captaincy, the team's fortunes changed and they were unbeaten in a four-team Asia Cup (T20) qualifying tournament in Bangladesh.

"I hope they continue to climb up," Franks said optimistically as he praised skipper Amjad Javed.
"The skipper is a massive influence and has made a significant impact on the team, Franks said in a conversation with the Khaleej Times on Monday morning at the ICC Academy.
The newly appointed coach believes that the new-ball pair of Amjad and Mohammed Naved would play a key role on the tour of Scotland. "Seam and swing will last a bit longer in cooler conditions in UK," he said, adding that the team now had depth in batting.
"The squad has more batting depth now then the time when I joined them two years ago. Then the team heavily depended on Khurram Khan," said Franks, who assisted the then coach Aqib Javed.
The UAE have had the worst possible start to their campaign: they have no points after three rounds, having lost all three of their matches so far.
Scotland, meanwhile, need a win to put their Intercontinental Cup campaign into gear. Rain played spoilsport in two of their three matches so far - against Afghanistan and Hong Kong - while the Netherlands beat them by 44 runs in their other match.
UAE Squad: Amjad Javed (Captain), Shaiman Anwar (Vice-Captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammad Shabbir (Wicket-keeper), Mohammad Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Krishna Karate, Laxman Sreekumar, Mohammad Naveed, Qudeer Ahmad, Mohammad Shahzad, Ahmad Raza, Feyyaz Ahmad, Mohammad Usman. Standby: Zaheer Maqsood, Ahmad Shauqat, Yodhin Punja, Chirag Suri. Coach: Paul Franks. Assistant Coach: Dominic Telo.
 

Captain Amjad Javed attends training.
Captain Amjad Javed attends training.

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