Keralite CP Rizwan Rauf to lead UAE cricket team in Asia Cup

CP Rizwan’s cricket career did not really take off and the electrical engineer from Kerala, like many from his state, migrated to the Gulf after finding work in Sharjah. Eight years later, the 34-year-old football player achieved great success – on the field. On Friday, the Emirates Cricket Board appointed Rizwan as the captain of the Asia Cup qualifiers. If Rizwan’s UAE win



the qualifiers, they will be in the same group as India and Pakistan in the heavyweight division.

“It will definitely be special if we qualify and play against India. But we just want to focus on one step at a time,” Rizwan told The Indian Express. The United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Hong Kong and Singapore will battle it out for a place in the group stage.