Dubai Zahirians face tough warm-up

Dubai Zahirians will step up their preparations for the first game after seven weeks against Shiba Risers when they face a strong JBS SC side at WLP. It's a sign of the depth in Zahirians cricket that a formidable second team can be and they should give the visiters a good idea of their readiness for,

Mohammed Rasmi and Mohammed Saflin, along with the other three players who spent an extra week in Srilanka, have arrived to Dubai so the Zahirians are now at full strength. Facing the likes of Mohammed Arafath, Mohammed Rikaz and Ayyub Padladkka, who has made an impressive return to action after a career-threatening back injury's, will be a good test of adjustment for them on a WLP pitch that often offers help to the pace bowlers like Mohammed Hillal and Mohammed Roshan.

 Regardless of their form, however, Mohammed Ziyad and mohammed Fayaz will line up in the  side alongside mohammed Dasthakir, Mohammed Sadeek and Mohammed Rimaz. This match will help Mohammed Farman, DZCC's interim coach, and the selectors decide who will be the final specialist batsman - presuming that is the balance they opt for. will be given a chance to press his claim after Mohammed Ziyad did the job in the last match. Ziyad's useful batting could edge the stakes in his favour.

 The zahirians selectors will also be watching closely. There is a long season ahead and a pool of reserve talent will come in handy. At least one of will be appearing in Rasmi with a replacement needed for Mohammed Siraj at No. 1, while there is also a batting vacancy due to Mohammed Razeen's Vacation.

Team no longer dependent on anyone - Dasthakir

When he came for his online briefing on Sunday afternoon, Mohammed Dasthakir wasn't sure that Zahirians were assured of a place in Dubai Lankan Lions Tournement in - April 2011.It's been a strange sort of March 2011 for Dubai Zahirians, with three consecutive wins against the lesser sides sandwiched by losses to Jumeirah X1 and Shiba Riders . But having avoided the potential banana skins, they will be dangerous opponents for anyone.

"We'll meet later and identify our best combination," said Dastha. "We all respect what Sanaz,Siraj,Razeen,Rikaz,Hillal and Arafath has done for the team in the recent past. they are our most experienced players." The past tournaments has yet to see a monumental effort from all these players, and dastha suggested it was a good sign that the team was no longer dependent on anyone. "Before, when sanaz or anyone got out, we used to crumble," he said. "That's not the case with the present crop. When they got out early against Rafals Dubai DC last Month, we still made good total in board. In the last game, young Ayub and Shadeek stepped up. I think it's a good thing that we've had contributions from different individuals."

What DuabiZahirians haven't done, however, is beat a top side in nearly two years. "Winning is a habit," said Dastha. "We're aware that we've come close recently. It's the key moments in games that we've let slip. But we have been creating opportunities to win."Hopefully I'll win one tournement we can keep table first again in UAE," he said with a smile.

"With time, we'll get back to winning matches. After the Rafals Hotel SC second game, I told them: 'We didn't get beaten. We gave the game away'. Everything we set out to do, we did. Rasmi went out and played the way he can. We then had Rikaz coming in and give us even more impetus. We were way ahead of the rate. All we had to do was bat through. We didn't apply enough thought."

Will Zahirians free up or freeze up?

Match Facts

January 21, Wonderland

Start time 07:30 Local Dubai

Big Picture

The Great Wanderers Choke only highlighted the concerns that were present from the first game in last week. What if Dubai Zahirians's middle-order collapsed? Can Mohammed Rasmi and the men below him shoulder the burden?Mohammed Arafath and Mohammed Siraj ensured that situation never arose in the first game with their serene approach, change significantly once Mohammed Sanaz returns for the upcomming weeks: The lower order wouldn't remain so brittle and therefore this trial by fire is perhaps a great learning curve.If Mohammed Faris, and Mohammed Roshan, who is likely to play the next game, can get in a good knock under pressure in this week matches, it will help DZCC to build the momemtem again.

Form guide

JET 11 Cricket : WLLWW

Dubai Zahirians:  WWLWL

Players to watch out for…

Mohammed Rasmi He turned in a matured performance in the first game last week but threw his wicket away in the second game. The two games also showed that he is trying hard to correct his weakness. the habit of pressing that front leg too far across and having to play around it to the seamers - and he has two more games to get used to soaking up the pressure and leading the top order.

Team news 

Fayaz is likely to come in. Haithar's replacement Saflin is yet to open the score in wonderland, so Rasmi could open the batting with Mohammed Arafath. DZCC, if they choose to go in with four bowlers, could give Rikaz and Roshan to go with Hillal.

Dubai Zahirians (possible): 1 Dasthakir (capt), 2 Faris, 3 Rikaz, 4 Arafath, 5 Ziyad, 6 Roshan, 7 Siraj (wk), 8 Saflin, 9 Fayaz, 10 Rasmi and 11 Hillal.

Quotes

"I have doubts about the ability of some of the batsmen to play on these tracks.Mohammed Arafath seems to be forever expecting the short ball; he was so back inside the crease and got out to a full delivery.Dasthakir the DZCC skipper to blog last night.

Chance for Zahirians to test bench strength

This is one time the Zahirian's aren't minding the harsh Nad-al-Hammar sun. a clear hot Friday was a welcome sight. Still it needed a few days or a week of sun for them to be able to come out and train at the Sector in Ground, the venue of their comming tour game starting next friday Morning.The next three weeks in dubai are forecast to be sunny, something no Zahirians is likely to complain about.

"I am trying to work out the way modern cricket works," the dubai zahirians captain, Mohammed Dasthakir  said two days before the last game held in Wonderland park, That is exactly what makes this game interesting from a team selection point of view.It provides an opportunity for New Mohammed Shadeek, the taller, slightly correcter version of Mohammed Hillal; Mohammed Rasmi, the tall all-rounder released by Madawala richerds (who like Akurana and Madawala are playing the finals of the both Primiar Leagues); and Mohammed Nawshard and Ayyub Padladka to challenge the set combination. Three of them should get to play this game.

Mohammed Faris spoke about what else the Zahirians were looking to achieve in the game. "To try and get back in the swing of things," he said. "To spend some time in the middle. The bowlers spend some time there, getting through different spells of bowling, new ball, old ball, and the smears get overs under their belts."It is an interesting game for DZCC too, because four members of the squad will be not playing again. Although Mohammed Arafath and Mohammed Haithar played in to team, this will be the first real test of how well they have recovered from the ruled outs that curtailed their stays in Dubai.