The UAE have made great strides in recent years, including World Cup qualification for the recently concluded tournament.

While past successes have been built on a battery of spinners, the appointment of coach Aaqib Javed has seen an upsurge in their seam bowling department, which has now some real quality and depth.

The biggest challenge facing the UAE will be the conditions they are likely to encounter in the UK, with wind, rain and temperatures in the mid teens forecast for the early stages of the event.

The Emiratis were hit on the eve of the competition by the withdrawal of Saqib Ali, one of their most experienced batsmen, who sustained a finger injury during training on Monday night.

Coupled with the recent retirement of the legendary Khurram Khan, their batting, especially in the top order begins to look a little vulnerable.

They do have a number of very powerful strikers of the ball, and quality performers in the guise of Shaiman Anwar, Amjad Ali and Swapnil Patil.

Anwar struck a memorable World Cup hundred against Ireland in Australia, and is ideally suited to the T20 format.

Left arm opening bowler Manjula Guruge has quickly established himself as one of the canniest bowlers in Associates cricket, mixing his pace well, and offering great variations, especially with his cutters.

Skipper Mohamed Tauqir bowls with great guile and spin, and can be expected to keep thinsg toght, while Nasir Aziz will attempt to put his recent woes behind him and kick-start his career during the event,

Star Man: Shaiman Anwar has the potential to dismantle any attack, and if he fires, then the UAE will do well.

Players to watch: Amjad Ali, Manjula Guruge, Ahmed Raza and Swapnil Patil are all quality performers, who along with skipper Mohamed Tauqir give the UAE a strong spine.

CricketEurope verdict: It may be too much to expect a semi-final berth for the UAE given the alien conditions, but if they can sort out their fielding - so often their downfall in the past - then a top six qualification slot is well within their grasp despite being drawn in the much tougher group.

UAE Squad: Mohamed Tauqir (captain), Fayyaz Ahmed, Amjad Ali, Umair Ali, Shaiman Anwar, Faizan Asif, Nasir Aziz, Manjula Guruge, Amjad Javed, Rohan Mustafa, Muhammad Naveed, Swapnil Patil, Ahmed Raza, Muhammad Shahzad, Abdul Shakoor

UAE fixtures:

• UAE v Scotland (July 9, 10am)
• UAE v Afghanistan (July 10, 14:15)
• UAE v Netherlands (July 12, 10am)
• UAE v Canada (July 14, 10am)
• UAE v Kenya (July 15, 14:15)
• UAE v Oman (July 17, 10am)