UAE newcomer Nilansh Keswani: This is something I’ve been dreaming of since I was a kid

Judged by his vibrancy in the UAE’s T20 World Cup qualifying campaign so far, it would be difficult to tell Nilansh Keswani is a Manchester United fan.

After their abject defeat in the Manchester derby against City at the weekend, he might have been forgiven for glumly traipsing around the Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground in Kathmandu.

Not a bit of it. The 20-year-old spin bowler played his first match in a major tournament for the national team against Kuwait on Tuesday.

Immediately he was the pulse of the side in the field. Marshalling backward point, he was spectacularly athletic as the UAE stemmed an early onslaught from their Gulf neighbours.

When he subsequently came on to bowl, he was then so difficult to beat as the batters beat drives back towards him that maybe Andre Onana, the United goalkeeper, should have been taking notes.

Keswani accepts it is possible his agility could stem from the fact he plays lots of other sports, too. He is a right back in football, and also plays badminton and table tennis regularly. Mainly, though, he thinks fielding is dependent on attitude.

“I just like to throw my body around because I know there will be times when I don’t do well with the bat or don’t do well with the ball,” Keswani said.

“In the field, you have to give 100 per cent all the time. If you can save at least five runs for the team, that makes a big difference.”

The UAE have not historically been known as a strong fielding side, but Keswani has supplemented a core of players who are trying to alter that view. Alongside Alishan Sharafu, Aayan Khan and Basil Hameed, they are trying to raise standards.

Despite being so new to the team, Keswani appears to feel comfortable in his surroundings, cheering on each of his