UAE not 'intimidated' by India

India - Cropped

United Arab Emirates will try their best not to be intimidated by a star-studded India at the Cricket World Cup on Saturday.

The minnows are given little chance of causing an upset at the WACA Ground in Perth, where they meet an unbeaten and in-form India.

MS Dhoni's men have won both of their matches at the tournament so far, sitting top of Pool B after triumphs over Pakistan and South Africa.

UAE captain Mohammad Tauqir said it was important for his team to approach the game as they would any other.

"We know they are big stars, but we will take this game like the last previous two games," he told a media conference on Friday.

"This intensity is going to be the same, and we'll take it like just another game. We will not be intimidated by their names or their status."

India opener Shikhar Dhawan has starred with the bat, making 210 runs in his two innings so far.

Virat Kohli (153 runs) has also been a good contributor, with that duo the key to India's success in the opening two games.

They will be without their leading wicket-taker, with Mohammed Shami (knee) sidelined for this clash.

For UAE, they are working on converting starts into big scores – like Shaiman Anwar did with his 106 against Ireland.

"I think we need to turn the 30s and 40s into bigger runs, and Shaiman has shown us in the last game," Tauqir said.

"Yeah, we've been maybe a little bit lapse of concentration in the middle, but we know our middle order can put up a bigger inning and this is the chat we had in the dressing room.

"I'm sure we'll look at some bigger innings during this tournament."

With four wickets, Tauqir, Amjad Javed and Mohammad Naveed have led the way with the ball for UAE.

But they will need something special to upset defending champions India, who will be desperate to continue their winning run.

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