The United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to make their second-ever appearance in the Asia Cup, and this time, they enter as hosts. Their first outing came back in 2016, where they impressed in the qualifiers but fell short in the main stage. Now, in 2025, they return with bigger ambitions, stronger players, and the home advantage.
UAE sealed their spot in this Asia Cup by winning the Men’s Premier Cup in 2024 in Oman. After finishing second in the group stage, they clawed back, and beat Nepal in the semi-final before overpowering Oman in the final.
Recent form:
Since May 2025, they have won six out of nine matches, including a famous come-from-behind series win over Bangladesh.
Their performance in the recently-concluded Tri-series wasn’t commendable but strong enough to not wrote them off. Their last encounter versus Afghanistan, where they lost by just five runs, show their determination to make a mark in the upcoming edition of Asia Cup.
Fixtures – Group A
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September 10: UAE vs India – Dubai
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September 15: UAE vs Oman – Abu Dhabi
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September 17: UAE vs Pakistan – Dubai
Squad:
Muhammad Waseem (capt), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wk), Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan D’Souza, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Matiullah Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh and Saghir Khan
The UAE team combines strong finishers, aggressive top-order hitters, and skillful spinners that work well on UAE pitches. With his explosive batting, Muhammad Waseem, their captain and opener, is the team’s vital cog. Asif Khan, a dependable finisher who can effortlessly clear boundaries, provides him with strong support.
In terms of bowling, left-arm spinner Haider Ali is anticipated to flourish in the UAE’s slow and low conditions. He was the Uganda tournament’s top wicket-taker, and in more recent games, he has maintained his form against more formidable opponents.
Strengths
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With Muhammad Waseem leading from the front, UAE have the firepower to start innings aggressively.
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Asif Khan’s hitting at the death gives them the ability to push totals beyond par.
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Haider Ali’s recent success highlights UAE’s advantage on spin-friendly tracks, crucial in home conditions.
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Familiarity with the pitches and crowd support could play a big role in their campaign.
Weaknesses:
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Much depends on Waseem, Asif, and Haider Ali. If they fail, UAE often struggle.
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While capable of beating stronger sides, UAE have also let matches slip from winning positions.
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Against powerhouses like India and Pakistan, their lack of sustained quality across all positions could hurt them.
Players to watch out for:
Muhammad Waseem
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UAE’s talisman and explosive opener, striking at over 155 in 2025.
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Sets the tone with aggressive starts, capable of changing games in a few overs.
Asif Khan:
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Powerful middle-order finisher, known for straight hitting.
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Can provide late momentum and close out innings effectively.
Haider Ali:
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Left-arm spinner, UAE’s leading wicket-taker in recent tournaments.
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Key threat on slow UAE pitches where his control and variations shine.
Junaid Siddique:
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UAE’s first bowler to get 100 wickets in the T20i format
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Can bowl with better control in powerplay and death overs
Muhammad Rohid:
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Up-and-coming star for the UAE
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Showed glimpses of brilliance in the Tri-series
