Mohammad Tauqir

Mohammad Tauqir is something a rarity in United Arab Emirates cricket - an Emirati and Dubai native, rather than an expat. Tauqir's interest in cricket was sparked in the 1980s, when he watched India and Pakistan play in the Cricketers Benefit Fund series at Sharjah along with Waleed Bukhatir, who went on to become executive committee member of the Emirates Cricket Board.

A veteran Associate cricketer, Tauqir has represented UAE since 1996, playing his first match for them during the Asian Cricket Council Trophy, batting at No. 11 and not bowling. Since then, he's played in a further five ACC trophies, as well as UAE's last three ICC Trophy campaigns, becoming a nuggety lower-order batsman and handy offspinner. Tauqir managed a half-century on ODI debut against an Indian attack containing Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan and Anil Kumble, taking the wicket of VVS Laxman, caught and bowled, in the same match. An investment banker by trade, he returned to the UAE team after an 18-month absence in 2014 and replaced Khurram Khan (with whom he shares an exact birthday) as captain for their 2015 World Cup campaign. Tauqir is also a qualified Asian Cricket Council level one coach, and hopes to continue to spread the game in UAE.
Liam Brickhill