UAE keep World Cup qualification dream alive with victory over Namibia

The UAE are on the brink of saving their one-day international status, as well as earning a place at the Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe in June, after beating Namibia in Windhoek.

Their 28-run win over the tournament hosts was the second rousing victory for the national team in successive days, after they beat Canada on Saturday.

If they beat Jersey in the final match of the Qualifier Play-off on Thursday, it would guarantee their place in the next Cricket World Cup League 2 programme – meaning they will continue to play ODI cricket.

Victory could potentially bring with it a place in the top two of the Play-off, and therefore progress to the global Qualifier. However, they could yet be denied by a highly complex string of permutations, even with a win against Jersey.

After four matches, the UAE are equal top of the table on six points with United States. Canada have played three games, and are two points behind.

If all three teams finish on eight points, the tiebreaker is head-to-head results. But that, too, would be tied, as USA beat the UAE, the UAE beat Canada, and Canada beat USA.

In that situation, the competition would be decided by the more conventional manner, by net run-rate. The UAE’s NRR is currently inferior to both USA and Canada.

Muhammad Waseem, the UAE captain, said his side are focused only on what they can control.

“We will take this momentum and try to win the next game, and try to qualify for Zimbabwe,” Waseem said after the win over Namibia.

Asif Khan was named player of the match after his 86-ball innings of 96 helped the UAE to 267 for five from their 50 overs.

He missed out on a third century in the space of five games when he was run out after a mix-up with Vriitya Aravind, who ended the