Pakistan's need for an emphatic batting performance and UAE's determination to prove itself against top teams means there is unlikely to be much fraternal goodwill when the teams meet in a World Cup Pool B match at Napier's Mclean Park on Wednesday.
Nine members of the UAE squad are Pakistan-born, but insist they won't be overawed or inclined to go easy when they take on a Pakistan team that faces elimination from the tournament unless it finds form quickly.
Pakistan's 20-run win over Zimbabwe on Sunday was its first in three matches this World Cup and, with matches remaining against South Africa and giant-killer Ireland, it must win well Wednesday to keep its campaign on track.
UAE allrounder Amjad Javed says regardless of their Pakistan roots, his teammates won't hesitate to press for the win.
“We are representing UAE,” he said. “It doesn't matter if you are a Pakistani playing against Pakistan, we will play for UAE against Pakistan and we will give 100 percent against them.”
Although it was well beaten by India, the UAE has taken confidence from competitive performances against Zimbabwe and Ireland.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq again acknowledged the desperate need for the top-order to find form, particularly ahead of their next match against South Africa. Pakistan has made 224, 160 and 235 in its matches so far.
Misbah was still at a loss on Wednesday to explain his batsmen's lack of form or suggest the remedy for it.
“What you can doIJ” he said. “I mean, you have to just think positive even if somebody is not performing well at the top.
“Cricket is a game of uncertainties and sometimes you've got four, five poor innings and suddenly you just have a hundred. It's like that and our batsmen are capable of that, even in the top order they’re capable of doing that.”
Misbah refused to take any hope from the Pakistan's experience at the 1992 World Cup, where it struggled in the pool rounds before finding form and reaching the final.
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