In the 2018 Asia Cup, Aslam of the UAE outshined Indian cricket legend Sehwag, remarkably running him out for a zero despite Sehwag's boast about scoring 200 runs.
The UAE cricket team is set to take on India in Dubai on Wednesday, marking a significant moment in the team's history. This will be the first time since 2016 that the UAE has played against India's senior men's team.
In 2004, the UAE faced India for the first time in international cricket, a match that the Indian team won. However, it's worth noting that the UAE has lost all four times they have played India since then.
One of the standout moments from that 2004 match was the dismissal of Virender Sehwag, India's opening batsman, by Naeemuddin Aslam, a player from the UAE team who was born and raised in Dubai. Aslam's dismissal came off the third ball of the game, resulting in a 'golden duck' for Sehwag.
Aslam's birthplace and upbringing caused some confusion for umpire Billy Doctrove, who did not understand how Aslam could represent the UAE despite being born in India. This is a testament to the diversity of the UAE cricket team, most of whose players were from India, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka. Aslam, however, did not have the opportunity to play cricket in India.
The UAE cricketers in 2004 had day jobs, a stark contrast to the current team, which consists of professional players who can devote themselves to cricket. The 2004 team had to drive from Dubai to Sharjah for training, spend an hour and a half in traffic, and then return home after training, all while working full-time jobs.
The current UAE team, under the leadership of coach Syed Abid Ali and captain Khurram Khan, is counselled to remain calm and keep the game simple during the change between innings. This approach could be crucial in their upcoming match against the Indian team, which has a celebrity status and a large following in cricket.
India won the toss and elected to bat in the 2004 Asia Cup match against the UAE. The Indian team, who were the defeated finalists in the World Cup a year before the Asia Cup, went on to win the match. Irfan Pathan, the coming man of Indian swing bowling at the time, took three wickets during the match, including Aslam's wicket.
The UAE cricket team did not have ODI status in 2004, and international T20 cricket was not yet a thing, so the players had to wait another four years before they could add another official ODI to their records. After the tour, Aslam returned to his day job, and the UAE cricketers had to wait another four years to add another official ODI to their records.
Virender Sehwag, who was dismissed by Aslam in the 2004 match, scored India's first Test triple centurion in 2004. The UAE team, despite the odds, played for the passion of the game, as they did not have the opportunity to make it big in cricket.
As the UAE team prepares to face India once again, they carry with them the spirit of perseverance and passion that defined their 2004 team. The match promises to be an exciting one, with both teams eager to make their mark.
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