NAPIER: United Arab Emirates all-rounder Amjad Javed said his batsmen will not fear facing giant Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Irfan.

Irfan, international cricket’s tallest-ever player at a towering 7 feet one inch, tore apart Zimbabwe in Pakistan’s first win of the tournament in Brisbane.

But Javed said the UAE are already familiar with the Irfan challenge having come across him during club games in the Gulf.

“Irfan played in Dubai seven years back,” said Javed of the paceman who featured in domestic one-dayers in the UAE before breaking into the Pakistan team in 2010..

UAE cricketers Amjad Javed (C) and Kamran Shazad warm up on Tuesday. — AFP

“If you have faced a bowler in a domestic match in Dubai before, then it’s okay. If you have not faced anyone, like Dale Steyn, that’s a different matter,” said Javed of the South Africa spearhead who the UAE will face in Wellington on March 12.

Javed said head coach Aaqib Javed and batting coach Mudassar Nazar, who both played for Pakistan at international level, were advising the players on how to negotiate the Irfan threat.

“We are ready for Irfan and are not scared, Aaqib is helping us, batting coach (Mudassar) is helping us.”

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2015

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