Esha Oza says UAE better prepared after opening setback in Women's Asia Cup

Esha Oza, the captain of the UAE women's cricket team, remains confident in her squad's ability to rebound after a tough opening to the Women's Asia Cup. The team suffered a significant setback in their debut match against Sri Lanka, losing by nine wickets at the Dubai International Stadium. This loss was a humbling experience for the team, which had previously managed to keep the match competitive against Sri Lanka in a previous encounter.

Despite the setback, Oza emphasized that such defeats can provide valuable lessons for a youthful team. "We were quite upset after the first game," Oza acknowledged, ahead of the UAE's next fixture against Indonesia. "We wanted to put up a better performance, especially considering it was the opening game and we had had a close game with Sri Lanka previously."

The UAE team is now aware of the challenges posed by the pitches at the tournament, and Oza stressed the importance of focusing on scoring at a rate of one run per ball. The team's qualification for the Asia Cup was secured earlier this summer, with three 15-year-olds forming part of the squad. These young players have since had the opportunity to play against top-tier teams such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.

Oza believes that this experience is invaluable for the teenagers, who are described as "young and fearless" and have nothing to lose on the field. "It's just about them enjoying their time on the field," Oza explained. "They can step out there, make mistakes, and enjoy the game." The UAE's cricket officials are optimistic that the promising signs displayed by the young players will lead to continued success for women's cricket in the country.

Oza highlighted the impressive achievement of the young squad securing a spot in the U19 T20 World Cup, with more than half of the team eligible to participate in the next World Cup as well.