Team preview: United Arab Emirates

UAE come into the tournament on the back of great form. They have won six of their eight completed Twenty20 Internationals in 2019. Prior to that, in 2018, they even won each of their five ICC T20 World Cup Asia B Qualifier matches by comfortable margins. Can that translate into success at the main qualifiers?

Their side features plenty of experienced names, such as Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza and Chirag Suri, among others. However, a fair few among their 15-strong squad are on the wrong side of 30.

Ashfaq Ahmed has plenty of runs behind him and will be their leading light with the bat; Sultan Ahmed and Zahoor Khan have led the charge in the bowling department over the last 12 months.

How they got here

UAE comfortably defeated each of their four opponents at the ICC T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier B, and also went on to win the final against Qatar. Once they were determined as the host nation, they gained automatic qualification, not having to play in the Asia Region Final Qualifiers, which was won by Singapore.

T20WC history

UAE participated in the ICC World T20 2014, but ended the tournament without a win.

Key player

Rohan Mustafa: A key all-rounder in the side, and vastly experienced, the 31-year-old will need to contribute with both bat and bowl if UAE are to come good on their No.12 ranking and make one of the six qualification slots up for grabs.

One to watch

Ashfaq Ahmed: The 36-year-old right-hander was in outstanding form during UAE's T20I series in Netherlands, scoring three half-centuries in four innings. His efforts at the top of the order powered his team to a 4-0 sweep.

Fixtures

18 October: v Oman, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
19 October: v Ireland, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
21 October: v Hong Kong, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
22 October: v Jersey, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
24 October: v Nigeria, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
27 October: v Canada, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi