Mohammad Tauqir: We take a lot of positives from the whole event and it was overall a good learning experience for us

UAE captain Mohammad Tauqir speaks to the media following the side’s six wicket loss against West Indies in Napier on Sunday. (ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Full Coverage)

 

Q: Just talk about today’s match, Tauqir, difficult start given the conditions, or how would you describe the 46 for 6?
MOHAMMAD TAUQIR (MT): We wanted to win the toss and bowl first and yes, the wicket early on was assisting the seam bowlers. It was swinging and seaming and I think our batters could not cope up with the seam and swing. In my opinion, 46 for 6 to 178 or 175 was a decent recovery, but the runs were not enough.

Q: You must be pretty pleased. You had a hundred run partnership and there was some decent bowling. Maybe it wasn’t the result you wanted, but if you look at it overall, would you say you competed in part not just in this match but in the tournament as a whole and you’re pretty happy?
MT: Yeah, I think it was a satisfactory performance from us. We know we could have done better than this, but overall it was a satisfactory. Our batting department was not as consistent as it should have been. I think even today 250-plus runs would have been a very, very challenging for West Indies.

Q: If you just look back on to the six matches in this tournament, what would you say would be the highlight of UAE’s campaign in this World Cup?
MT: I think it was in bits and pieces. But consistently under (Aaqib) Javed, we did very well throughout the tournament. Shaiman Anwar was also very consistent and. there were a few positives. Our overall bowling department was pretty consistent in every game. In my opinion, the fielding and batting departments need a bit of improvement. But we take a lot of positives from the whole event, and it was overall a good learning experience for us. We have thoroughly enjoyed this tournament.

Q: Also, can you just talk a bit more about the partnership between (Amjad) Javed and (Nasir) Aziz today? Secondly, what is the plan for yourself personally and Khurram, both 43 years old? I’m sure you’re not looking forward to another World Cup, but what is the plan now for both of you?
MT: I think, first of all the partnership was amazing, and it saved us a lot of embarrassment and saved the day. Both Nasir and Amjad have batted well and it was required. Regarding myself and Khurram, I don’t know about Khurram, but I think we have done a lot of hard work during the last eight to ten months in preparation of this tournament, and I feel pretty fit and would definitely like to continue playing as long as I’m enjoying the game, and I think Khurram would also think the same.

Q: When I interviewed your Coach Aaqib Javed he also picked a couple of games he thought you guys should have won. How does he feel about the whole performance?
MT: I think he’s very, very happy, satisfied with the team’s performance. It would have been very good if he would have won one or two games. But it had been unlucky that we couldn’t, but I think he’s happy with the team’s performance.

Q: If you had to pick one moment over the last six weeks that you’ll remember for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
MT: I don’t know. I think overall the whole tournament has been very, very special for the whole team. We really enjoyed the whole tournament. But one moment that would have changed the game was Kevin O’Brien’s catch that got dropped. If that catch would have been taken, we would have definitely won that game. But overall, we have definitely enjoyed the whole tournament.

Q: Would you say that the spell faced by you guys from Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn later was the toughest part of the World Cup for you guys?
MT: I think yes, it was. At the same time I’m very thankful to them for bowling the way they bowled to us. I think by facing them it gave us a lot of confidence. I think that innings was a highlight for us, and we almost played 48 overs, 49 overs in that match. So, yes, it was the most hostile bowling that we have faced in this tournament.

Courtesy: ICC