Cricket / Intercontinental Cup: Injuries, illness, acclimatisation difficulties and missed flights have dogged Ireland's last-minute preparations for their InterContinental Cup semi-final against the United Arab Emirates in Namibia which starts tomorrow.
All-rounder Andre Botha is doubtful with a toe infection which has restricted his participation in training so far. Northamptonshire spinner Andy White is recovering from a dose of flu, Eoin Morgan has a stomach bug and Kyle McCallan is suffering from blisters. It is thought they should all be available for selection but it is far from ideal preparation.
Meanwhile, a tough net session in temperatures of around 33 degrees at altitude yesterday left the players exhausted and the coach worried.
"The guys are struggling to cope with the heat, especially those who have just arrived (on Friday morning)," said coach Adrian Birrell.
The four players and team physio Iain Knox who make up the Northern contingent were stuck in London for two days after a delayed flight from Belfast meant they missed their connection.
"They really needed the couple of extra days to acclimatise and to be honest, they are down and out at this stage," he said, noting the UAE will hardly have any trouble adapting to the weather coming as they do from Dubai. That said, Birrell added he would not be putting up any excuses and overall, confidence is still high in the Ireland camp.
Having come second in the ICC Trophy earlier this year and then subsequently beating the winners of that competition, Scotland, in the European group stage of this competition, they know they can go all the way. "We feel that after beating the UAE in the ICC Trophy we can do it again," said Eoin Morgan. "Then we will meet either Bermuda or Kenya in the final. Team spirit is very good. We are looking to win this and there is no reason why we can't."
The InterContinental is a competition of three-day cricket, designed to enable non-Test playing countries who play mostly one-dayers, get experience of the longer form of the game.
Maintaining concentration while spending long periods in the field or at the wicket, particularly in this heat, will be a crucial factor in how Ireland can progress over the next few days.
As for the UAE, they are an unfamiliar team to the one who lost to Ireland by two wickets in Stormont in July. Only four of the players from that game survive thanks to injuries and work commitments.
"Some of the players have been away for two months already this year preparing for and playing in the ICC Trophy and other matches and that may be one reason why they are not playing now," said Mazhar Khan, administrator of the Emirates Cricket Board. "Some players have already taken up to 65 or 70 days' leave this year and with jobs of work they cannot afford any more time off."
One of the key absentees for the UAE is likely to be Khurram Khan, the all-rounder who played a key role in getting the side to Namibia in the first place. A key player for them will be opening batsman and captain Arshad Ali whose ability to score heavily will be crucial to their chances against the Irish.
"Ireland are a good side," said Mazhar Khan. "They have qualified for the World Cup, are looking to move forward as a team and could easily go on to win the ICC InterContinental Cup. They are favourites for our match but it is all about whether we can perform on the three days."
IRELAND (from): Trent Johnston (capt), Conor Armstrong, Andre Botha, Jeremy Bray, Peter Gillespie, Dominick Joyce, Kyle McCallan, Adrian McCoubrey, Paul Mooney, Eoin Morgan, Niall O'Brien, Greg Thompson, Andrew White.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (from): Arshad Ali (capt), Muhammad Taskeen, Imran Ali, Rameez Shahzad, Kashif Ahmed, Vairamoorthy Sockalingam, Sameer Zia, Ali Asad Abbas, Rizwan Ahmed, Fahad Alhashmi, Usman Saleem, Marlon Fernando, Fahad Usman.
