New UAE recruit Aryansh Sharma dreams of debut amid ‘home’ vibes in Nepal

Given the gloom that has pervaded the senior men’s UAE cricket team of late, a new dash of colour and can-do spirit should be embraced keenly.

On his first tour with the senior side, Aryansh Sharma is already providing both. The 18-year-old wicketkeeper-batter served 12th-man duties with all the eagerness you might expect of a teenaged trialist, in UAE’s loss against Papua New Guinea in the opening match of their tour to Kathmandu on Friday.

His mint-green boots provide the sparkle. And his enthusiasm to make an impression is just as vivid.

Sharma does not know whether he will get the chance to play in the vital Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series, but he is grateful to be in with a shout.

Last week, he was part of the UAE side who missed out on qualification for the Under 19 World Cup after a thrilling, if ultimately heartbreaking, game against Nepal in Ajman.

He found out he was set to tour Nepal with the senior team after making a half-century against Singapore in that event.

“It felt amazing because I was the only guy from the U19 side this time who made it into the men’s team,” Sharma said.

“It was overwhelming, and I would like to get a debut game for the team as well now. If I get that, I will try to perform my best.

“I had some nerves but then we had a team meeting and all my new teammates were very friendly with me. From that time onwards I have felt very confident.

“Since then I am just hoping that we win and hopefully we can do well in the series.”

Their start was a poor one. The national team suffered a third consecutive defeat to PNG in the space of two weeks when they went lost out at Tribhuvan University.

They face Nepal at the same venue on Sunday knowing they have to win that, as well as the remaining