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The UAE Women’s cricket team has achieved a significant milestone, earning ICC One-Day International (ODI) status for the first time in their history. The elevation, confirmed for the 2025-29 cycle and effective from May 12, marks a pivotal moment for women’s cricket in the Emirates and is a testament to the team’s consistent performance, particularly in the T20I format.
UAE captain Esha Oza expresses excitement on getting the ODI status
The UAE secured their coveted ODI status by virtue of their high T20I ranking among Associate Members at the time of the annual ICC Women’s T20I rankings update. This strategic pathway for Associate nations underscores the growing importance of T20I cricket in providing opportunities for teams to progress in the 50-over format as well.
Captain Esha Oza expressed her immense pride and excitement regarding this historic achievement. “I’m proud of what we have achieved and excited about this new chapter ahead,” Oza stated in her official statement. She extended her congratulations to everyone involved with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), acknowledging the collective effort and vision that made this possible. “This has been made possible through collective effort and inception,” she added, highlighting the years of dedication and hard work behind the scenes.
The inclusion of the UAE in the ranks of ODI playing nations comes at the expense of the USA, who lose their ODI status for the upcoming cycle. Meanwhile, other Associate Members have either retained or gained status through different qualification pathways. Thailand and Scotland successfully maintained their ODI status by qualifying for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, showcasing the direct reward for performance in global qualifiers. Papua New Guinea and the Netherlands also retained their ODI status, similar to the UAE, based on their strong standing in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings. This mix of qualification criteria reflects the ICC’s multi-faceted approach to developing and providing opportunities for Associate nations in the ODI format.
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What’s next for the UAE Women team?
The timing of this announcement finds the UAE Women’s team currently in Bangkok, where they are participating in a Quadrangular T20I series. This series involves hosts Thailand, Hong Kong and Kuwait, providing the UAE squad with valuable competitive exposure as they prepare for the demands of ODI cricket in the upcoming cycle.
The attainment of ODI status is expected to provide the UAE Women’s team with more opportunities to play against stronger opposition, thereby accelerating their development and raising the profile of women’s cricket within the UAE and the wider region. It opens doors for increased funding, better infrastructure, and more structured domestic and international fixtures, all of which are crucial for the sustained growth of the sport.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
