UAE U20 - News & Discussion

[MOD-MrMoose]

We are going up! We are going up!

Another dominant batting display (89 to Sulamain, 61 to the flavour of the week Muizz and 31 to Imad) allowed our bowlers to turn the pressure up and it ended up too much for Pakistan.

A div 2 title and back up into Div 1. Ending the season back in Div 1 in both formats, been really good to bounce immediately back up. 3 title wins in the last 6 tours (admittedly two in Div 2) shows what the UAE playing group is capable of and is a credit to the managers who constantly train and produce high quality players. We’re incredibly grateful for all of you

Let’s talk about how good a week Muizz had.
https://www.fromthepavilion.org/player. ... Id=2456231

303 runs in 3 innings.
2 not outs, making his average for the tour 303.
No other bats made it to triple figures in this tour, he did it twice.
390 balls faced, 23 fours and 6 sixes.

Our bowlers shared the load around this week, 8 wickets to Rashid and Sami our FMs, 7 to Rashad a spinner.

Rashad also took 4 field catches in 3 matches (a New Zealander took 6 in 3 matches - which was about what most keepers took for the tour).

Our eyes now look forward to the World Cup, but before that we thank the players who will age up before then:
Aswad Bahib, Bashshar Hafiz, Ghalib Sami, Gadil Sulaiman, Tawfiq Imad and Isam Mu’izz.

[GA-PowerBug]

Relegation is allowable as anyone can have a bad week, it's how you respond from it which is important. Promotion straight back up shows the high floor that is now instilled in this UAE U20 setup.

Great job team

P.S. I can't wait to see some of these players in the senior squad in the future

[MOD-MrMoose]

Scotland host a U20 One Day Tour starting next Monday (18th September).
Games will be 0900 daily.

We play Canada, England, Bermuda, Netherlands, India in the Group Stage.

Touring Squad is:
Abbas Qadir - Locked on Lads - On Nats Debut
Abul-al Rashad - Hassanites - 7 Nat YODs to date
Aden Alam - VinodhFiring - 3 Nat YODS to date
Aladdin Hussein - Buggles United - On Nats Debut
Bilal Qudamah - Punt Road CC - 4 Nats YODs to date
Donquixote Doflamingo - Sterling Archers - On Nats Debut
Georgia Wareham - The Pink Ladies - On Nats Debut
Ghassan Rashid - Xanadoosra - 6 Nats YODs to date
Hanif Rasil - Los Pollos Hermanos - 3 Nats YODs to date
Idris Jubair - Emirates Academy - 2 Nats YODs to date
Jumah Omer - Indian Capers - On Nats Debut
Kadin Ahmed - Scott's Tots - On Nats Debut
Kale Rahim - PKF Tigers - 6 Nats YODs to date
Naidan Mönkhbat - Sterling Archers - On Nats Debut
Nizar Alam - PKF Tigers 2nd XI - 3 Nats YODs to date
Wafiq Temiz - Uthaug - 3 Nats YODs to date
Zaki Kareem - PKF Tigers 2nd XI - 2 Nats YODs to date
Zubair Najeeb - SP Dragons - 5 Nats YODs to date

Lets have a good tour!

[heppa]

We need a big week from guys like Rashid, Rahim, and Alam if we're going to do well. Looking forward to it.

[MOD-MrMoose]

WOWE WHAT A CHASE THAT WAS!

A win in a final against the Aussies has been a long time in the making and the lads walked thin ice last night to achieve a grand final berth. Jobs not done and the boys will be looking to write a piece of UAE FTP history when we take on Zimbabwe in the grand final. Zimbabwe are the reigning u20 t20 world cup winners, so they won't be unfamiliar to the big stage. The best of luck to the Zim U20 nat team.

Apologies for being a touch absent with match reports this week but here's a little summary of the week to date.

Monday:
A big win against Canada as 100s to Rasil and N. Alam saw us post 369 on a hard deck. 4 wickets to Rashid and 3 to Temiz saw the win confirmed.

Tuesday:
Contributions from a lot of the top order saw us set 238 on a sticky wicket in humid weather. Temiz, Rashid and Rashad (all 3 wickets) then saw England restricted to 136 in reply. Another decent win building some critical NRR.

Wednesday:
None of our bats could really get going and we managed only 218 on a sticky wicket in some hot weather. Our bowlers couldn't do the required damage and Bermuda got home with 5 wickets and half an over to spare.

Thursday:
The dutch set us 218 to win on a sunny dry and the Dutch Medium van der Vaart tore through our bats.

Friday:
161 didn't feel like nearly enough (admittedly in bowling conditions on a humid/sticky) but Rashid stood up with 4 wickets to see us through to a Semi Final dance with Goliath himself.

Saturday:
Choosing to bowl first and chase in perfect batting conditions (Sunny/Flat) our bowlers did well to restrict the dangerous Aussies to just 281 runs. Hussein, Rashid (3 wickets) and Temiz (2 wickets) all doing a superb job. At 6/160 after 30 overs, most would have respected if the cue was put in the rack and the bois accepted a lose to the stronger opponent. Not today said Kale Rahim. Slow and steady Rahim added to our total, supported initially nicely with a 14 run knock from Hussein, hope started to build. That diminished after it was suddenly 8/201 and we required 6.75 an over (81 from 12 overs) with just the 10 and 11 left to support Rahim (now on 28). Rahim gritted his way to 50 before losing Kareem in the 44th over to put the Aussies just one wicket away from another Grand Final. Rahim turned it on from here and got his 100 in the 49th over. The 50th over had a simple equation 2 runs required for UAE victory, 1 wicket required for the Aussies. A draw would see the Aussies through. Rahim takes the single off the first ball and puts the fate of this world cup in the number 11s hands and boy oh boy. Scores level but all still to play for. [missed runout] the Aussies have a chance and miss it. [dropped] Rashid has hit straight to the fielder, it's done, we've lost... No wait, he's dropped it. Run boys run. They scamper through for the single and WE HAVE DONE IT. Beaten the Aussies in a World Cup Final and through to the big dance.

[heppa]

Another World Cup final!

Home Zimbabwe U20
Away UAE U20
Ground Marvellous CG
Cup U20 One Day World Cup
Date 24 Sep 23 09:00
Crowd 15,636
Weather Humid
Pitch Slow

Orders locked in. Lets go

[epcguy]

Unlucky gents but congrats on getting to final...

[MOD-MrMoose]

Unlucky gents but congrats on getting to final...

Thanks mate and congratulations on the title!

[MOD-MrMoose]

Not our day in the final.

Ultimately our bowlers leaked too many runs and not even the miracle man Rahim could drag us to the victory!

A good run, none the less and a World Cup where we successfully beat England and Australia is always good going.

Thank you to all managers who have provided players for this World Cup and a massive thank you to each and everyone of you who continually supports UAE in your own way.

[heppa]

Wasn't our day in the end despite a fantastic week from the side. Another World Cup final is something to be proud of.

And with that, I announce that I will be stepping away from the U20 side.

10 seasons ago, the UAE setup was looking bleak. The U20 side was languishing in division 3 and the player base was absolutely shocking. Penky and myself took it upon ourselves to come back to the scene and restore the side. Not only this, we had the ultimate aim of winning the nations first World Cup.

While a WC title was a crazy thought back then, 10 seasons later, we've managed to drag the UAE U20 side into division 1 across both formats and maintain our position there for several seasons. Along the way we have picked up three U20 OD Div 1 titles, two T20 World Cup finals, and one OD World Cup final. Not bad for a side that has one of the lowest and weakest player bases.

Not only this, we have managed to create a thriving discord community where both sets of management teams discuss the side regularly as one big team. A few seasons ago we added the UAE's greatest fan to the team - Moose. He has spent the last few seasons witnessing the craziness behind the scenes. He has shown he is capable to take over the side and continue what we have built. While we failed in our mission to win a World Cup title, I believe a fresh set of eyes and direction will only better our chances at the first title.

It has been an enjoyable ride and I thank all UAE fans for putting up with Penky and myself and training their players for the side.

[MOD-MrMoose]

Just a touch modest there Heppa, 10 seasons for 9 Titles (1 Div 3, 5 Div 2, 3 Div 1) is a very very impressive return. Without a doubt Penky and yourself have achieved your goal of restoring glory to the UAE U20 side.

You have been the UAE U20 manager almost the entire time I have played FTP, so it will be a little strange to see someone else at the helm. A big thank you for everything you and Penky have done for the UAE U20 side over your time.

If given the chance, I'll be hoping to build on the fantastic foundations you've both left behind (if elected) and hopefully we can get that illusive World Cup for the mighty UAE soon!

[MOD-MrMoose]

This is democracy manifest!

Well unless the election gets blatantly rigged, it looks like I have run the election unopposed and consequently will get to take the reigns on the wonderful beast that is the U20 National side.

It would be amiss of me not to thank the outgoing manager and his loyal sidekick for all the work, effort, blood, sweet, tears and heartbreak they have put into running this U20 side for a long time. I am fortunate to inherit a fairly well set up system and that is largely down to the hard work of Heppa/Penky. I thank them for the opportunity they’ve given me to learn from them.

So first steps.

Like all good head coaches, I will start by poaching the best available assistant coaches. I’m proud to announce that Speedy has agreed to come across from the dark side (currently Bugs/senior nats assistant). Speedy is a day one UAE fan that has contributed to the cause through valuable player development (with some youth pull luck that I’m not at all bitter about) and also his time helping bug boi in the senior nat systems. Speedy is a quiet achiever and will happily (I think) do the prep work behind closed doors that a lot of the community wouldn’t know happens.

Then it’ll be down to business. A tour of the facilities and meeting the playing squad (and by this I mean selecting a playing squad). We’ve had a fair turnover since the recent World Cup so we will start the squad selection process for the next tour.

Our next immediate goals:
Qualify for the next T20 World Cup
Qualify for the next OD World Cup

Best foot forward for qualifying for both world cups is staying in Div 1 now that we are back up in both formats. Winning titles will be the aim of every tour but staying up in Div 1 will be crucial for World Cup qualification.

We will also start forecasting future World Cup squads to look at future talents. We will be in touch after we do our review to discuss training plans etc. with relevant managers.

Now you’ve read all that, you’re probably thinking how can I help the UAE cause.

1. Youth Pull UAE players
2. Train UAE players in decent academies
3. Believe

We will also have two vacant assistant manager positions, so if you’re interested in learning about the national set up and committed to the UAE cause, send me a message.

Thanks all

[heppa]

Good luck Moose. Looking forward to seeing your tenure unfold

[MOD-MrMoose]

We will also have two vacant assistant manager positions, so if you’re interested in learning about the national set up and committed to the UAE cause, send me a message.

Just to touch further on this, will be looking for up to two managers to come on board as assistants. I would expect the manager to commit to the UAE (through youth pulls if possible or community involvement).

Send me an in-game message if interested.

Thanks Moosey