Bold calls pay off to revive UAE’s chances of facing India and Pakistan in Asia Cup

When UAE last made a trip to Muscat for a cricket tour, back in February, it ended joyously.

Ahmed Raza took five wickets in the course of captaining the national team to qualification for a T20 World Cup for just the second time.

Zahoor Khan pocketed the final wicket in the same game, the all-important semi-final win over Nepal, to spark the celebrations.

In the final that followed, which was little more than a toast to their ongoing excellence, Rohan Mustafa hit the winning runs as they walloped Ireland for a fifth time in a row.

How times change. Six months later, they are back in Oman’s capital, with qualification for a major tournament on the line, and all three of their most experienced players were on the outside looking in.

Having suffered a shock defeat to Kuwait a day earlier, UAE’s game against Singapore on Monday was must-win.

UAE bounced back from Sunday's defeat to Kuwait to reignite their Asia Cup prospects. Photo: ACC

Absent from their line up were Raza, Mustafa and Zahoor – as well as Kashif Daud, who has also enjoyed recent triumphs in Muscat.

In their place were players who were eager to impress, with the prospect of fixtures against India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup ahead – and then places on the plane to Australia for the World Cup to follow.

Restored to the line ups after months of ferrying drinks for his senior colleagues, Karthik Meiyappan shone.

The 21-year-old leg-spinner took three for 13 to help bring about a 47-run win.

Sultan Ahmed, who has been out of the side since October last year, was straight back into the old routine. His economy rate of 4.28 in his 3.3 over spell was only a little below his career standard.

The heftiness of the win over Singapore gave UAE a significant run-rate