Key Points

UAE spinner Simranjeet Singh sees their Asia Cup opener against India as a fantastic opportunity for his team. He revealed they've learned from recent matches against Pakistan and Afghanistan and won't repeat past mistakes. The team plans to use their home advantage in Dubai's familiar conditions to challenge India. Singh expressed confidence in UAE's strong squad despite the apparent mismatch on paper.

Key Points: UAE Spinner Simranjeet Singh Eyes Asia Cup Upset Against India

  • UAE learned from recent T20I series against Pakistan and Afghanistan
  • Team aims to capitalize on familiar Dubai weather conditions
  • Playing India seen as valuable opportunity for development
  • Squad includes captain Muhammad Waseem and power-hitter Asif Khan
3 min read

UAE spinner Simranjeet Singh sees Asia Cup opener against India as valuable opportunity

UAE spinner Simranjeet Singh says facing India in Asia Cup opener is valuable opportunity, promises strong fight using home advantage in Dubai conditions.

"We will try to give a good fight to the Indian team - Simranjeet Singh"

By Vipul Kashyap, Dubai, September 9

UAE spinner Simranjeet Singh stated that their preparations are going well for their Asia Cup opening fixture against India, viewing it as a valuable opportunity for their team.

The UAE recently engaged in a T20I Tri-Series against Pakistan and Afghanistan. Singh mentioned that they have learned from their recent series against them and are determined to avoid repeating their mistakes in the upcoming Asia Cup Tournament.

While speaking to ANI, Simranjeet Singh said, "Our preparations are going on well. As everyone knows, we are playing against India. This is a good opportunity for our boys. We have played a series against two test nations. We have learnt a lot from there. We will not repeat our mistakes in the upcoming Asia Cup Tournament."

India and the UAE, placed in Group A, will square off on Wednesday at the Dubai International Stadium, a clash that appears one-sided on paper, given the stature of the two teams. India is coming into the fixture without much T20I action, considering they were involved in a five-match Test series in England.

Simranjeet Singh lauded the Indian team, emphasising that his side's focus is to play good cricket, and expressed confidence that the UAE has a strong team that will put up a good fight against India.

"They are a good team. They are all good players. Our focus is to play good cricket. We have a good team. We will try to give a good fight to the Indian team," he added.

Singh noted that playing in the UAE's home conditions will be beneficial, saying, "We know how the weather is here, and we'll try to take advantage of that," highlighting the team's intent to capitalise on familiar surroundings.

"Yes, absolutely. When a team plays in their home condition, it will definitely benefit them. All the boys have been playing cricket here for a long time. Everyone knows what happens in this weather. What happens during the day and what happens at night. Most of the boys know that. We will try to take advantage of that," he concluded.

The UAE, which is participating in the tournament for the first time since 2016, boasts immense talent, including captain Muhammad Waseem, power-hitter Asif Khan, and others

UAE squad for Asia Cup: Muhammad Waseem (capt), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wk), Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan D'Souza, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Matiullah Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh and Saghir Khan.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Respect to UAE team for their positive approach! But honestly, India should win this comfortably. Our players need this match to get into T20 rhythm after the test series.
A
Aryan P
Dubai weather and pitch conditions can be tricky. UAE might surprise us with their local knowledge. Hope Indian batters adapt quickly to the conditions!
S
Sarah B
Good to see associate nations getting this exposure. UAE has some talented players who've performed well in various T20 leagues. Should be an interesting contest!
V
Vikram M
While I appreciate UAE's confidence, let's be realistic - India should win this by a big margin. Our bench strength is better than their first XI. But good luck to both teams! 🏏
M
Michael C
Interesting to see how many Indian-origin players are in the UAE squad. Cricket truly connects South Asians across borders. Hope it's a competitive match!

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50