The problem, though, is whatever UAE have brought to the table in the ICC World Cup to date falls within the ambit of "it's not cricket, is it?"
The minnows have come across as a team trying to keep their noses above the water in the statistical pool of competitiveness amid fear of letting down other associate nations' fight to secure more matches against the test nations to better their lot.
Against Pakistan a fortnight ago, the Aaqib Javed-coached UAE were simply content to play bat/pad in saving face to see out 50 overs rather than pulling the plug to risk a lopsided result.
Add to that win-less UAE's eyebrow-raising decision to bowl first on winning the toss and you start getting the picture why the Stuart Williams-coached Windies should be threading their worry beads.
"Obviously it's a must-win game for us but the weather is out of our control so we must control only what we can," rookie captain Jason Holder said today in a press conference at McLean Park.
Covering their bases and treating it as a normal game also is on their agenda.
Asked if opening batsman Chris Gayle was starting, Holder replied: "Everybody's fit and everybody's ready to go with full confidence."
Gayle arrived in Napier this under a back-injury cloud, not making the Windies' first training session at Nelson Park on Wednesday.
He did turn up in the following days but didn't spend time in the nets or take part in fielding drills.
UAE's passive approach to the premier one-day tournament is another uncontrollable factor for the Calypso boys.
However, UAE skipper Mohammed Tauqir made all the right noises at the media scrum shortly before the Windies fronted up.
Tauqir said playing "positive cricket" was their intention after meeting giants India and South Africa as well as test nation Pakistan.
"We saw Ireland beating West Indies [so that] gives us a lot of confidence - we can do that as well tomorrow."
With Sir Viv Richards pointing out a few chinks in the Windies' batting armour, Tauqir said UAE could see the merit in exploiting the vulnerabilities of the opposition who tended to be overly reliant on an "out-of-form" Gayle.
"They are good side but we'd like to see an unpredictable West Indies tomorrow."
In UAE's defence, the adopted nation of Hawke's Bay have had a raw deal in yo-yo-ing to and from New Zealand and Australia in a hectic schedule that no elite nation would ever tolerate, let alone accommodate. They will apprehensively catch a flight home on Monday in the wake of an impending cyclone.
A serious injury has meant bowler Fahad Alhashmi was expected to arrive home today, with UAE bracketing in a fast bowler.
"Tomorrow, we hope the Chris Gayle storm doesn't come to UAE," a chuckling Tauqir said, believing the master blaster hasn't had an air of invincibility about him in the tourney.
Holder felt his men simply needed to play smart cricket.
"Any team would have loved to have qualified by now by this stage but it's not the case for us because we've been up and down the tournament."
However, the 23-year-old is confident Windies will do the job tomorrow.
"Again I can look back and say we're a bit horrible here and a bit horrible there but that's cricket," he said, accepting it as a win-some, lose-some beast.
Whatever XI the Windies take to McLean Park tomorrow there's a promise of some traditional mongrel.
"It's in our nature to be aggressive and that's what we'll be on the day . . ."
Although new in assuming the mantle of captaincy, Holder has been enjoying the challenge.
The lanky Barbadian paceman, capable of knocking up useful knocks, was mindful some fans were critical of his leadership but was prepared to roll with the punches.
"What is important is guys focusing on what is required of me and to leave me to lead the team to the best of my ability," he said, receiving a timely filip from batting legend Brian Lara who sees potential in his leadership.
"If you focus too much on what people say then you get side tracked."
Holder preached controlled aggression "but what's important is not getting too carried away with it."
