UAE’s Muhammad Waseem Shines in Historic Win The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recorded a memorable 42-run victory over Oman in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 on Monday, with captain Muhammad Waseem leading from the front at the Zayed Cricket Stadium. The win not only boosted UAE’s campaign after an earlier setback against India but also saw Waseem achieve a personal milestone, becoming the first Emirati batter to cross 3,000 runs in T20 internationals.
Waseem’s delight after a strong comeback
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Waseem expressed his satisfaction with the team’s all-round performance and praised his players for responding positively after their defeat to India.
“The past is the past and we wanted to show everyone the caliber we have,” Waseem said. “I’m very happy with today’s performance. We prepared for three days and executed well as a batting and bowling unit.”
The captain also explained UAE’s strategy going into the game, emphasizing the importance of an aggressive start and batting with depth.
“We wanted to attack in the powerplay and then bat deep,” he added. “Scoring 3,000 runs is a very proud moment for me, my family, and my country. I want to keep performing this way.”
UAE’s batting display
Opting to bat first, UAE got off to a flying start thanks to an 81-run opening partnership between Waseem and Alishan Sharafu. The pair took advantage of the powerplay, finding boundaries regularly and keeping Oman’s bowlers under pressure.
Sharafu, who has become a reliable top-order performer for UAE, reached his 10th T20I half-century before falling to Jiten Ramanandi for a well-made 51 off 38 balls. His innings included five fours and two sixes, providing the perfect platform for the middle order.
Asif Khan departed cheaply, but Waseem continued to anchor the innings with confidence and composure. He reached his 24th T20I fifty and went on to score 69 off 54 balls, decorated with six fours and three sixes. His knock was not only vital for UAE’s total but also historic, as it took him past 3,000 career runs in T20 internationals—the first Emirati batter to achieve the milestone.
Cameos from Mohammad Zohaib (21 off 13) and Harshit Kaushik (19* off 8) in the final overs pushed UAE to a competitive 172-5 in their allotted 20 overs.
Oman’s troubled chase
In reply, Oman’s innings never found stability as they lost wickets at regular intervals. Junaid Siddique gave UAE the perfect start by dismissing Aamir Kaleem in the very first over. He then struck again to remove Oman’s captain Jatinder Singh, who had briefly threatened with a quick 20 off 10 balls.
Oman’s top order crumbled under relentless pressure from UAE’s bowlers. Haider Ali and Mohammad Rohid chipped in with key wickets, leaving Oman struggling at 50-5 inside the first seven overs.
Aryan Bisht (24 off 32) and wicketkeeper Vinayak Shukla (20 off 17) attempted to steady the innings with a 38-run partnership, but their resistance was broken when Jawadullah dismissed Shukla. From there, Oman’s lower order folded quickly as Junaid Siddique returned to clean up the tail.
Junaid finished with outstanding figures of 4-23, ensuring UAE’s dominance with the ball matched their effort with the bat. Oman were eventually bowled out for 130 in 18.4 overs, falling well short of the target.
A statement win for UAE
The convincing win underlined UAE’s growing confidence on the big stage. Their balanced performance in both batting and bowling departments highlighted the depth in the squad and their ability to bounce back from setbacks.
For captain Waseem, the day was particularly special. Not only did he lead with the bat, but his milestone of 3,000 T20I runs marked a historic achievement for UAE cricket, inspiring younger players in the country to aim higher.
The victory also puts UAE in a stronger position in the Asia Cup group stage, giving them momentum ahead of upcoming matches. With Waseem in prime form and the bowling attack firing, UAE have signaled they are more than capable of competing against established teams in the region.
As the Asia Cup progresses, all eyes will be on how far UAE can carry this momentum. But for now, their captain and star batter Muhammad Waseem has given the nation plenty of reasons to celebrate.
