INTERVIEW
Follow UsKnowingly or unknowingly, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have plenty of youngsters at their disposal in the age range of 17-25. Three senior players and former skippers – Ahmed Raza, Rohan Mustafa and CP Rizwan – have slowly been phased out. While Raza continues to serve as the assistant coach, it won’t be an exaggeration to claim we might just have seen the last of the other two players.
Amidst this, the UAE have seen a sea of youngsters coming through the ranks, and have started to show glimpses of their prowess. And this holds them in good stead for the foreseeable future.
Vriitya Aravind, Aayan Khan, Ethan D’Souza, Ali Naseer, Ansh Tandon, Sanchit Sharma and many more are among the current crop of UAE’s young guns. Add someone like Aryansh Sharma, a 17-year-old wicketkeeper-batter to the mix, the team’s stocks continue to rise.
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In his T20 International (T20I) debut against New Zealand in Dubai, Aryansh smashed 60 off just 43 deliveries against a bowling attack consisting of Tim Southee, Mitchell Santner and Kyle Jamieson, among other quality bowlers.
However, with no support at the other end, UAE fell short of their target.
“I grew up watching them on TV. They play international cricket a lot, a Test nation, IPL. They play a lot of IPL. Santner we know, he has learnt a lot from the great MS Dhoni being in that CSK side. Tim Southee is in my favourite franchise KKR. It was amazing to get some runs out there,” a star struck Aryansh told Cricket.com.
Despite having Aravind in the side, Aryansh has been entrusted with the gloves, a sign of the confidence that the team management has in the 18-year-old. He has repaid their faith by not only slamming a fifty, but being sound behind the wickets as well.
“It was told to me that if I am playing, then I will be having the gloves. I don't know what the plan behind that was,” Aryansh said.
“I started playing cricket when I was six years old. But when I was around 10, I liked MS Dhoni a lot and I wanted to follow that role. That's where I started wicketkeeping. Since then, I'm just following whatever he does,” he added.
He showed Dhoni-esque sharpness behind the wickets when he had Chad Bowes stumped off Aayan Khan in the second T20I, staying steady, low and keeping eyes on the ball as the better missed a reverse sweep. What more? The bails, too, were off in a flash!
All this is an accumulation of the hard work that has gone right from when he was six. Having moved to the UAE when he was just two, his father persuaded him to take up sports when he was just six to keep himself physically fit. He immediately chose cricket as his “extra-curricular” activity.
“When I was two years old, my dad got a job in the UAE. So, we shifted to the UAE from India and when I was six, my dad asked me a question. He told me to be physically fit, you'll have to do some extra-curricular activity - choose any sport you want - for physical fitness,” Aryansh, who is currently pursuing B.com Professional at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai, said.
“Around that time I used to watch cricket a lot, I liked cricket a lot. So, my dad asked which sport do you want and I straightaway said I love cricket, I'll follow it. Since then I started playing cricket.
“I love playing cricket. Even if I don't touch the bat or don't have a practice session for two continuous days, I just don't feel good. I feel I am missing out on something. My family has always supported me. Without my family, I wouldn't have been here.”
Aryansh’s progress saw him play in the Under-19 World Cup in 2022. He did not have the best of tournaments (28 runs at 9.33; 6 dismissals), but UAE enjoyed a very good campaign, finishing ninth having defeated hosts West Indies and Ireland along the way.
“That was a very amazing experience for me,” Aryansh spoke of his stint in the tournament.
“That was the first time when UAE Under-19 had the best ranking in the World Cup as well. We came in ninth. Defeated two Test nations - Ireland and West Indies. It was very nice for us. Plus, our head coach, Muddi sir [Mudassar Nazar], really helped me throughout the tournament.
“I didn't have a very good tournament with the bat that World Cup. But the way he supported me after that was amazing. I cannot ask for better support than that. The support I had during the tournament and after that was amazing.”
His journey with Mudassar Nazar has extended even to the senior level as the former Pakistan batter looks to continue to guide the team to new heights.
“I really like being around Muddi sir. Since my Under-19 days, I have been with him. I really feel comfortable talking to him,” the wicketkeeper-batter said.
“They [Nazar and Raza] have created an environment where we can go and ask them what we want to do and what we don't want to do. They'll advise us.
“One piece of advice, I would say, before my T20I debut I'd actually asked Muddi sir what happens if I play 2-3 dot balls. Should I slog? He said, 'stick to your normal, basic game. Focus on playing your shots along the ground. If it goes in the gap, you are getting boundaries, it's fine. Just focus on your strengths. No need to panic.’ That's what I follow.”
UAE had a tournament to forget at the World Cup Qualifiers, but ended the tournament with a consolatory victory over USA, winning by just one run. Aryansh scored 57 opening the innings with Asif Khan, but UAE will have to wait at least another four years to have a crack at playing in the ODI World Cup.
Given the crop of young players at their disposal, the likes of Aravind, Aayan and, of course, Aryansh will all be under 25, among other key players.
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However, they have a chance to play the T20 World Cup in USA and West Indies next year, if they finish among the top two teams in the Asia Qualifiers in Nepal later this year, which for Aryansh and many others in the side will be a dream come true. They put up a brave fight in 2022 and will hope to put up a better show in the mega event next year.
With the promise he has shown in such a short time, do not be surprised if Aryansh is one of the central figures behind UAE’s success in the years to come.
