The United Arab Emirates (UAE) have finalized their 15-man squad for the upcoming T20 tri-series against Pakistan and Afghanistan, a crucial preparation phase before hosting the Asia Cup.
The series, scheduled from August 29 to September 7 in Sharjah, pits the UAE against two of Asia’s cricket powerhouses. Pakistan and Afghanistan will open the competition on the first day, with UAE making their debut in the tournament on August 30 against Pakistan.
Fresh Faces In, Familiar Names Out
Skipper Muhammad Waseem continues to lead the side, while selectors have opted for a shake-up with Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, and Muhammad Jawadullah added to the squad. Dropping out from the previous lineup are Akif Raja, Matiullah Khan, and Zuhaib Zubair, signaling a willingness to experiment before a packed cricket calendar.
This series offers a final opportunity for UAE’s selectors to assess their bench strength ahead of the Asia Cup, which kicks off just two days after the tri-series concludes. The UAE will share a tough group alongside India, Pakistan, and Oman, with their final Asia Cup squad to be announced closer to the tournament’s start.
Complete UAE Squad
- Muhammad Waseem (c)
- Alishan Sharafu
- Aryansh Sharma (wk)
- Asif Khan
- Dhruv Parashar
- Ethan D’Souza
- Haider Ali
- Harshit Kaushik
- Junaid Siddique
- Muhammad Farooq
- Muhammad Jawadullah
- Muhammad Zohaib
- Rahul Chopra (wk)
- Rohid Khan
- Saghir Khan
A Big Test for UAE Cricket
For Pakistan and Afghanistan, this tri-series will be a tune-up ahead of the Asia Cup, but for UAE, it’s a rare chance to test themselves against top-tier opposition in home conditions. The inclusion of fresh talent suggests a focus on long-term development, while the series also offers the squad valuable exposure against two sides brimming with T20 specialists.
Pakistan, under pressure after recent criticism over their T20 approach, will also be closely watched, adding intrigue to what is shaping up to be an exciting week of cricket in Sharjah.
