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Giant-killing is not unknown up here on the north-west frontier of Pakistan. The hills around the town of Peshawar, where England play their next World Cup match against the United Arab Emirates, were a mujahedin stronghold. A launching pad for guerrilla raids that eventually saw off the might of the Russian Army that had invaded their Afghanistan homeland.
Last time England were here for a World Cup match, that war was still being waged and Peshawar was a mad, bad and dangerous place, fairly bristling with mercenaries, KGB, and CIA. A place seemingly awash with Kalashnikovs and carpets. On that occasion, England played Sri Lanka, winning comfortably, a feat they should - barring calamity on a titanic scale - accomplish against the UAE tomorrow.
Yet this is no ordinary side of hopefuls, united behind a single country or language. In fact the UAE comprises seven different countries, and while most of the side communicate in Urdu, their team consists of just two Gulf Arabs, one of whom, Sultan Zarawani, is also the captain.
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