Qatar team's players and officials celebrate after their win over Saudi Arabia in the Twenty20 match at the Asian Town Cricket Stadium, in this last year's file photo.
Qatar national team yesterday embarked on a journey to Thailand, seeking a rise in their status in international cricket with a title-triumph at the ICC World Cricket League Asia Division 1 starting next week in Chaing Mai.
The team left for Bangkok after an extensive six-month preparation for the tournament dubbed as vital for the competing teams, as the winning side will directly get promotion to Division 5.
Apart from Qatar and hosts Thailand, Kuwait, China, Bhutan, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are taking part in the contest, which will conclude on May 1.
The Qatar Cricket Association (QCA), knowing the importance of the event, devised training schedule for the team in the last six months accordingly, ranging from vigorous training and matches against teams like Saudi
Arabia and Kenya. In their final phase of preparation, the team played 50-over matches against various local sides.
“ We are well prepared and ready for the tournament,” Qatar team captain Inam Ul Haq told The Peninsula on the eve of team’s departure to Bangkok.
“ All the teams are tough but we are very optimistic about winning the tournament after undergoing strenuous preparations for the event,” said the seasoned cricketer who has years of experience in playing at domestic levels in Pakistan, England, Scotland, Bangladesh and the UAE.
Haq said his team has all the ingredients of winning the tournament.
“ Qatar is one of the best competing teams in the tournament. We have a balanced side and most importantly all the players are showing hunger to win the title,” said Haq who has also represented Pakistan at the junior level.
The Qatari captain praised QCA President Yousef Jeham Al Kuwari for his support for the national team and for promotion of the game in Qatar .
“ We have the ability to rise in international cricket and this is because of all out support from the QCA. The president has been very supportive and assisting us in every possible manner.”
Qatar will open their campaign against Kuwait on April 22 before taking on Bhutan the following day.
They will face the hosts on April 25 and Bahrain the next day. Qatar’s key matches against China and Saudi Arabia are scheduled on April 28 and May 1.
Vice-captain Mohammed Rizlan rated Kuwait, China and Saudi Arabia as main threats for Qatar in their title-bid.
“Qatar has some tough matches lined-up in the event but we are well prepared,” Rizlan told The Peninsula.
“Kuwait, China and Saudi Arabia are good sides. But we are confident against them specially against Saudis as we have won a series against them recently and hold psychological advantage against them.”
The top order batsman and wicket-keeper said Qatar will take all the matches as final.
“ This is a league event where we will face all the participating teams. In order to ensure the title we are keen on winning every single match.
“We are desperate to win this tournament to get promoted to Division 5. We are aware that failure to do so will put us five years back. So, we will be firing on all cylinders to win the title,” said the 32-year-old.
Awais Mali, Khadeer Mohammad, Iqbal Choudhary, Khurram Shahzad, Qalandar Khan, Mohammad Nadeem, Kamran Khan, Tamoor Sajjad, Zaheeruddeen Ibrahim, Muhammad Tanveer, Noman Sarwar and Dharmang Hasmukh are other members of the team.
QCA Operations Manager Ahmed who will also accompany the team was upbeat about team’s chances of winning the title.
“After a strong build-up of the national team, we’re very much confident of a good display,” he said.
Qatar will play two warm-up matches ahead of the tournament. They will take on Bhutan tomorrow before meeting the hosts on Friday.
