Muhammad Waseem’s struggles personify a team at odds with ODI cricket

There is more than one reason why the start of Asia Cup qualifying cannot come soon enough for the UAE national team.

The basic logistics of travel from Aberdeen to Muscat mean the players are facing a hectic couple of days.

They will leave Scotland on Wednesday, briefly dump their jumpers and cold-weather gear back in Dubai and Sharjah, then head on to Oman the morning after their return home.

UAE will play T20 internationals against Kuwait, Singapore and Hong Kong next week, for the right to face India and Pakistan on home soil at the Asia Cup.

They surely cannot wait to get to Muscat, a place that holds happy memories, and a return to a format in which they are far more confident.

Their trip to Scotland for the series of Cricket World Cup League 2 one-day internationals has been forgettable, at best.

It was ever thus: UAE have played eight limited-overs matches in Scotland across the formats down the years, and have lost every one.

Their chance to break that duck was scotched on Tuesday when they were confronted by weather that was, indeed, better suited to ducks.

UAE’s final fixture against United States was called off after incessant drizzle throughout the day had rendered the ground at Mannofield unplayable.

The UAE's Aryan Lakra takes on a short ball from Scotland fast bowler Chris Sole in the Tri-Nations Series match at Mannofield Park, Aberdeen, on August 14, 2022. All pictures courtesy Ian Jacobs/Cricket Scotland

A share of the points at least meant USA had no chance of leapfrogging UAE into the top three in the table. The seven-team competition carries with it three places at the World Cup Qualifier next year.

UAE had hoped to be far better placed at this stage than having to squabble with the likes of USA