Cricket: UAE's out to improve by hook or by crook

MS Dhoni

UAE coach Aaqib Javed feels India captain MS Dhoni could have thought a little outside the square before playing a hook shot on associate nations' chances of securing even one or two games against the big boys.

"Okay, you (India) don't have time but if you look at the 365 days in a year and see what you can do, because it's only two days of your life," Javed said in Napier soon after returning from Perth following a nine-wicket loss to the defending champions.

"It's not about giving 10 days but about two days ... so it's not a big ask."

With plans afoot to trim the number of teams for the 2019 World Cup from 14 to 10, teams such as the UAE, Scotland, Afghanistan and Ireland would be in danger of losing their spots for the 50-over showpiece event.

Dhoni reportedly sat on the fence when asked about trimming associate nations -- after trouncing UAE in short time to engage in a training game of soccer at the Waca -- but said: "It's a difficult one. Yes, the associate nations, if they can get a few more games in a better scenario in good facilities, it will be good for them. But please, not India. India can't play any more games."

However, Javed felt Dhoni could have expressed himself better.

"If India can't, then he could have suggested India A or any other team could have invited us ... whatever, because it's about developing the game."

He harked back to the days when India and Pakistan were fledgling nations but superpowers gave them a break.

"The Zimbabweans, Bangladesh and even Sri Lanka in the 1990s weren't that strong either so it's about supporting each other."

Javed said it was simply a case of the ICC looking after India and other elite countries well.

"Look, we don't mind travelling but we don't want to make a big deal of it because we're getting a chance to play in the World Cup."

His concern was the associates needed more than just a quick four-year build-up to foot it against the cricketing giants.

"It's not going to happen but there should be a regular [development process]."

A jovial Javed said the only consolation UAE had going into tomorrow's World Cup match in Napier was that Pakistan would be equally tired after their flight from Brisbane.

"Look, against India it was all pressure - atmosphere, crowd, playing the [defending] champions - it's all in the mind," said the fast-medium who could swing the ball both ways and still holds the record of youngest bowler (19 years and 81 days) to have claimed an ODI hattrick (against India in October 1991).

Javed suggests associates should have a buddy system with other top-tier nations, if India aren't forthcoming, for four years.