Mohammad Tauqir to captain UAE at World Cup

Mohammad Tauqir has been named captain of UAE's squad for the World Cup, replacing Khurram Khan. Khurram was named vice-captain of the 15.

The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) announced the squad on Saturday, and a report on the ICC site said the board viewed Dubai-born Tauqir's appointment as an "opportunity to promote and showcase Emirati leadership and playing skills on the international sporting stage, and at the same time raise the profile of the sport within the Emirati community". The decision, the report said, "intends to highlight that indigenous players are integral to the future sustainability of the sport".

It also said the board was happy to have the experienced Khurram - who has captained the team for over six years, having taken over in July 2008 - backing up Tauqir, and thanked him for his commitment to the game, and to the development of the sport in the UAE.

Tauqir, 43, is a middle-order batsman and offspinner who has played 32 List A games, including five ODIs, in a ten-year career. He has taken 34 wickets in these games, at 29.05, and scored 223 runs at 11.73.

UAE is placed in Pool B, alongside Pakistan, India, South Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe and Ireland. They begin their campaign on February 19, against Zimbabwe, in Nelson.

Squad: Mohammed Tauqir (capt), Khurram Khan (vice-capt), Swapnil Patil, Saqlain Haider, Amjad Javed, Shaiman Anwar, Amjad Ali, Nasir Aziz, Rohan Mustafa, Manjula Guruge, Andri Berenger, Fahad Al Hashmi, Muhammad Naveed, Kamran Shahzad, Krishna Karate