T20 World Cup: UAE release all-rounder Mohammad Zohaib ahead of opener over disciplinary issues | Cricket News
New Delhi: The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) on Monday announced that all-rounder Mohammad Zohaib has been dropped from the team due to disciplinary issues but did not reveal further details about the matter. “Mohammed Zohaib has been sent home due to disciplinary issues. Further details will be provided in due course. The ECB will not make any further comment on the matter at this stage,” the committee said in a statement.
Meanwhile, UAE captain Mohammad Wasim made it clear ahead of Tuesday’s opening match of the T20 World Cup against New Zealand that tensions over the India-Pakistan match will not affect his team. He stressed that the UAE team is united regardless of nationality. “No, to be honest, there is no India-Pakistan distinction. We play for the UAE and we always treat ourselves like family,” Wasim said. He added, “We live like family, friends. We spend time together, eat together. To be honest, there is no Indian-Pakistani in the UAE team.”Wasim also praised Indian head coach Rajput who will join the team in 2024. He said Rajput’s experience helped the players understand the situation better. “He has a lot of experience with India. He is working with the boys; he tells everything about the pitch and other things. So that is helping us and we are working on it and Allah, you will see the same thing tomorrow as he tells the boys,” he added.Looking ahead to the match against New Zealand, Wasim said the UAE will take confidence from their historic win over the Black Caps in 2023. “Our strategy is very simple. We have beaten them before in the UAE but this time it’s a different venue, a different game, a different venue and a different game,” he said. “So we have another plan now… We prepare like a championship team. So by all means, we will try to play a good game of cricket against them tomorrow.”He also said the team was well prepared, adding: “Yeah, to be honest, the preparations are going really well… We’re coming in here with a different mentality and mindset. So you’ll see tomorrow how the boys play.”
