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Cricket fans in the UAE are in for a high-voltage contest as their national T20I side is set to host Bangladesh for the two-match T20I series. The matches are scheduled to take place at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium on May 17 and 19, marking UAE’s first T20I assignment of 2025.This short but significant series will test the hosts against a full-member side, offering a valuable opportunity to gauge their progress against higher-ranked competition.
Leadership reins handed back to Muhammad Waseem
After voluntarily stepping down from captaincy in October last year to focus on his ODI batting, Muhammad Waseem has now been re-appointed as skipper. His leadership experience across 26 T20Is between 2023 and 2024 made him the natural choice as the team looks to rebuild after recent struggles in the Cricket World Cup League 2.
The decision comes at a time when UAE is seeking stability and spark at the top, especially with Waseem still being their most prolific T20I run-scorer. His return could prove vital in energizing the squad and setting the tone against a confident Bangladesh side.
Waseem’s dip in form, particularly during the recent ILT20 and the ODI circuit, raised eyebrows. He hasn’t scored a T20I half-century since December 2024 and has only one fifty in ODIs over the past two years. However, his reputation as one of the world’s highest T20I run-getters since 2021 remains intact. With the added responsibility of captaincy, Waseem now has a point to prove — both as a leader and as a batter.
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A balanced squad featuring mix of youth and experience
UAE have announced a 15-member squad, mixing youth and experience, for the two games against Bangladesh. Alongside Waseem and Chopra, players like Alishan Sharafu, Simranjeet Singh, and Asif Khan bring depth and firepower to the team. The return of multiple experienced players gives hope for a strong outing at home.
Notably, UAE last played a T20I series in December 2024, where they triumphed in the Gulf T20 Championship. However, the upcoming matches against Bangladesh represent a considerable step up from regional competition, where they previously faced teams like Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain.
UAE squad for the T20I leg against Bangladesh:
Muhammad Waseem (captain), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma, Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan D’Souza, Haider Ali, Matiullah Khan, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Muhammad Zuhaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Saghir Khan, Sanchit Sharma, Simranjeet Singh
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