The United Arab Emirates challenged the International Cricket Council to ensure more top-flight matches for associate nations after narrowly losing to Zimbabwe in their World Cup clash Thursday.
"The more we play at the highest level the more we can improve our cricket," UAE captain Mohammad Tauqir said after Zimbabwe snatched victory in the Pool B clash.
Zimbabwe, a Test-playing nation, scraped home by four wickets with just 12 balls to spare after the amateurs from the UAE had posted 285-7 on the flat Saxton Oval wicket in Nelson. (In pics: UAE smash record on return to World Cup)
It was the highest ODI score by a UAE side but it was not quite enough for Tauqir. (Related: UAE batting surprises Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe ready for West Indies after defeating UAE)
"Another 25-30 runs it would have been a different result," he said.
It was a game Zimbabwe should have won comfortably with their wealth of international experience and after putting up a credible showing when losing their opening tournament match to South Africa.
Instead they were made to fight all the way by a gritty UAE side with victory eventually set up by an 83-run stand for the sixth wicket by Sean Williams (76 not out) and Craig Ervine (42).
Ireland have already shown their ability to compete with the Test playing nations by beating the West Indies earlier in the week to go with the scalps of England and Pakistan in previous World Cups.
"The more opportunity given to the associate nations to play with the bigger teams it's an improvement for their game," Tauqir said.
"When you play against them you get good exposure. It's good for the improvement of the game at associate level. If we play only at associate level we cannot improve the game."
The 15 UAE players have a combined total of just 71 ODI caps between them with the side making a World Cup comeback 19 years after their one and only previous appearance in 1996.