The Qatar cricket team delegation poses for a photograph at Hamad International Airport ahead of departure to Kuwait for the Asian Regional qualifiers for ICC Twenty20 World Cup yesterday. The team delegation is headed by Issa Al Yagoob, the Public Relati
Doha: Eyeing a title triumph in Kuwait, Qatar are hoping for a winning start at the ICC World Twenty20 Middle East Regional Qualifiers as they face a ‘tough’ UAE side in their opening match of the six-nation competition starting tomorrow.
Led by Inam-ul-Haq, Qatar yesterday reached Kuwait for the week-long event after months of preparation under UK-based coach Simon Gough.
The teams featuring in the event also includes hosts Kuwait, Maldives, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
After meeting the UAE, Qatar will play their second match against Kuwait on April 21 followed by their matches against Maldives (April 23), Saudi Arabia (April 24) and Bahrain (April 26)
Top three teams from the tournament will advance to the next stage of the ICC World Twenty20 Asia Region but Qatar are targeting to clinch top position in Kuwait.
“We are well prepared and all the players are in good rhythm,” Qatar’s seasoned wicket-keeper Rizlan Iqbar told The Peninsula from Kuwait.
“Off course the title is in our minds and all the players are desperate for a hundred percent record by winning all matches of this tournament,” he added.
“We have been preparing for this contest for the last three months under coach Simon Gough. Then most of the Qatar players were involved in different domestic tournaments including the Qatar Champions League which gave them a good match practice too,” he added.
Rizlan, however, said the team needs to give a strong performance against the UAE in tomorrow’s opening match.
“UAE is the toughest team in this competition. They have good experienced players as they have also played major ICC tournaments. We are targeting a victory against them and if we will be able do that it will give us a huge deal of confidence for rest of the tournament,” he said.
Qatar have been doing well in international events including the recent ICC tournaments.
Last year in May, the team under the same captain won the seven-nation International Cricket Council’s (ICC) World Cricket League Asia Division 1 event in Thailand - their maiden ICC title.
“That triumph made us believe that we have the potential to win titles in major tournaments and we are starting this test with the same belief,” Rizlan said yesterday.
