'I was so disappointed': Arshad Ali recalls UAE's squandered chance at 2008 Asia Cup

Only two players – Rohit Sharma and Mushfiqur Rahim – are still involved from the last time Pakistan staged an Asia Cup, back in 2008.

The fact they only have a part share in this year’s tournament means Rohit will not be heading back there this time, with India’s matches all scheduled for Sri Lanka instead.

One family will be represented again, though. Abdullah Shafique is part of the Pakistan squad for the tournament, which starts on Wednesday, 15 years after his uncle, Arshad Ali, played in the competition.

Rather than the green of Pakistan, Arshad was wearing the grey of UAE.

He had moved from Sialkot to Dubai for work when he turned 18. He landed a job on the strength of his cricket, and within fours years had qualified to play for his adopted homeland via the ICC’s residency criteria.

He represented the national team with distinction for years, with his zenith being the qualifying tournament for the 2008 Asia Cup.

Arshad was the top run scorer in that event in Malaysia, including 213 not out in a pool match against Brunei.

The UAE won the competition, and – along with losing finalists Hong Kong – were rewarded with a place at the Asia Cup.

Seven of the 15-player UAE squad for the tournament were Pakistani nationals, and Arshad said it was the realisation of a dream for each of them.

“We were going back home, to our own people, our own ground, where we had dreamed of playing when we were young,” Arshad said.

“It is like Australians wishing to play at Melbourne [Cricket Ground] and English people wishing to play at Lord’s. You want to go and play a game at the top level at Qaddafi Stadium if you are from Pakistan.

“We were so excited, and we had a good team, with guys like [captain] Saqib Ali and Khurram Khan. It was