Zimbabwe gave South Africa a good run for their money in the opening game at the World Cup but came up 62 runs short in the end. Of the eight bowlers used by Zimbabwe, six went for more than six an over as JP Duminy and David Miller pummeled them all over the park. Against UAE, on Thursday, Zimbabwe's bowlers are likely to get some reprieve from this hammering. The Middle East side were involved in the 1996 World Cup and notched a 7-wicket win over fellow minnows Netherlands.
Nineteen years later, UAE make a return into the mega event after qualifying as runners up. 43-year-old Mohammed Tauqir led UAE are full of amateur players. Most prominent of them is vice-captain Khurram Khan who works as a flight steward for Emirates Airlines. The one positive for them going into the tournament will be their element of surprise.