Sultan Zarawani captained the UAE side during their brief participation in the 1996 World Cup. He was the only native-born player, with almost all his team-mates being recently-imported immigrants. A legspinner and middle-order batsman, he learned the basics of the game while at school in Pakistan and went on to lead the UAE to 12 straight victories in the ICC Trophy, ensuring their qualification for the World Cup. He is best remembered for going out to face a rampant Allan Donald wearing only a sunhat. An unimpressed Donald dug one in, and sure enough, scored a direct hit on Zarawani's head - he survived the blow but lasted just another eight balls. As a cricketer, Zarawani was in over his head, but he probably didn't mind too much. A wealthy man, he was probably the only player in the tournament to own more than a dozen expensive cars.
Martin Williamson