Aayan Khan’s wonder show sends UAE into semi-final of Asia Cup qualifier

Aayan Khan returned remarkable figures of 4-6 in 10 overs as UAE sealed progress to the ACC Premier Cup semi-finals with a comprehensive win over Bahrain.

The national team became the first side to advance to the last four of the competition following an eight-wicket win against their Gulf rivals in Kathmandu.

The winners of the 10-team tournament will qualify for the Asia Cup, where they will be placed in a group with India and Pakistan.

UAE kept their hopes alive with a demolition of Bahrain, which was brought about by Aayan’s latest virtuoso display with the ball.

The left-arm spinner made his one-day international debut in Kathmandu last November, the day before his 17th birthday.

Like the national team as a whole, he has played much cricket in Nepal in the time since. In particular, he has found conditions in Mulpani to his liking.

His haul against Bahrain, which included 55 dot balls from the 60 deliveries he bowled, followed a five-wicket haul he had taken against Hong Kong at the same ground earlier in the competition.

“On this wicket we knew the ball would spin a lot, and even with the new ball it was spinning,” Aayan said.

So Aayan Afzal Khan (17yrs 162days) has four for four in eight overs against Bahrain at the moment. Including this. Ridiculous pic.twitter.com/iNdWoXLHAb

“That meant we had to bowl at the stumps, and this is what happened.

“We have been playing [a lot] in Nepal over the past two or three months. This is our third tour here, and we know the ball will spin from the start.

“Us spinners aimed to bowl the ball in line with the stumps and let the batters make a mistake. That way we managed to get them out.”

Bahrain had claimed a shock win over UAE the last time the sides had met, at the T20 World