Khurram Khan

Steven Smith has won the top ICC awards for 2014-15, being named Cricketer of the Year as well as Test Cricketer of the Year

Khurram Khan, the UAE batsman, has retired from international cricket after a 14-year career

UAE's players are at the opposite end of the spectrum from India's but underperforming in one game should not be an argument against their presence at the World Cup

Far from the cavernous MCG, where they played a warm-up match against Australia last week, the UAE will begin their World Cup campaign in the small New Zealand city of Nelson on Thursday

UAE kept pace with the asking rate in their chase of 309 but regular wickets ensured Afghanistan wrapped up a 14-run win with 10 balls still left to play

For the UAE players, a normal day involves waking up at 6 AM, working a 9 to 5 day job, and then driving back long distances for a four-hour training session; all out of their commitment to do well in only their second World Cup

Of all the unlikely stories that populate Associate cricket, UAE getting to the World Cup could be the unlikeliest

Mohammad Tauqir has been named captain of UAE's squad for the World Cup, replacing Khurram Khan

Afghanistan kept themselves alive in the four-match series against UAE with a last-gasp win in the third ODI at the ICC Academy

At 43 years and 162 days, UAE captain Khurram Khan became the oldest player to score an ODI hundred, his unbeaten 132 helping the team to a six-wicket victory against Afghanistan in Dubai

UAE's top three batsmen all raised half-centuries, helping the hosts to a five-wicket victory against Afghanistan in Dubai

UAE's captain Khurram Khan juggles his cricket with another high-flying career. He talks about cricket in the UAE and his plans for retirement

Two tame defeats to Netherlands and Ireland revealed the gap that exists between the amateurs of UAE and the leading lights of the Associate world

Ireland may have passed their biggest test in the first round in the form of Full Member Zimbabwe, but captain William Porterfield feels another "big hurdle" lies in wait when they face their next opponents, UAE.

Khurram Khan, the UAE captain, has said that poor catching and bowling were why his side lost to Netherlands despite posting what he felt was a reasonable total

UAE are making a return to a world-level tournament after 18 years, with a semi-professional squad that has punched above its weight

A round-up of the final day's action in the Super Six stage at the World Cup Qualifiers in New Zealand on January 30, 2014

A round-up of the Super Sixes matches in the World Cup Qualifiers played on January 28, 2014

A round-up of the Super Six games of the World Cup Qualifiers on January 26, 2014