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Asia Cup T20I tournament has witnessed some spectacular batting collapses throughout its history, with associate nations particularly struggling against quality bowling attacks from established cricket powerhouses. Among these dramatic implosions, the United Arab Emirates stands out as the most frequent contributor to this unwanted list, appearing in three of the five lowest totals ever recorded in the tournament’s T20I format. The most recent addition to this ignominious record came when UAE was bowled out for just 57 runs against India in Dubai on September 10, 2025, marking the second-lowest total in Asia Cup T20I history. These batting collapses highlight the significant gap that still exists between associate nations and full ICC members, despite considerable improvements in global cricket infrastructure and development programs.
Top 5 lowest totals in Asia Cup T20I history
1. Hong Kong – 38 runs vs Pakistan (September 2, 2022, Sharjah)
Hong Kong’s catastrophic collapse for 38 runs against Pakistan in Sharjah marks the lowest batting total in Asia Cup T20I history. Chasing a daunting 193, Hong Kong was dismantled in just 10.4 overs by disciplined bowling. The devastation was led by Shadab Khan, whose leg-spin took 4 wickets for 8 runs, while Mohammad Nawaz claimed 3 for 5, weaving a spin web that overwhelmed Hong Kong’s batting. Extras contributed 10 runs, the second-highest after the top scorer’s 8. Pakistan’s pace bowlers set the tone before the spinners demolished the line-up, leading to Pakistan’s emphatic 155-run victory and highlighting the gulf between associate and full member teams.
2. UAE – 57 runs vs India (September 10, 2025, Dubai)
UAE’s recent tumble to 57 runs against India in Dubai stands as the second-lowest total in Asia Cup T20I history. On home soil, UAE started promisingly at 26/0, but a devastating combination of Kuldeep Yadav’s spin (4 wickets for 7 runs) and Jasprit Bumrah’s incisive bowling led to the loss of all wickets for just 31 more runs. Captain Muhammad Waseem’s 19 runs were the highest, with no other batter reaching double figures. This performance starkly highlighted UAE’s ongoing struggles to compete against world-class bowling despite improved form in recent years.
3. UAE – 81/9 runs vs India (March 3, 2016, Mirpur)
UAE’s score of 81/9 at Mirpur against India showed the team’s inability to overcome India’s multi-dimensional bowling attack. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s swing and discipline helped yield 2 wickets for 8 runs. Despite Shaiman Anwar’s resilient 43, the rest of the lineup faltered. The innings lasted the full 20 overs but lacked scoring momentum. India responded dominantly, winning with nine wickets and 59 balls to spare, demonstrating the disparity between emerging and experienced teams.
4. Pakistan – 83 runs vs India (February 27, 2016, Mirpur)
Pakistan’s 83 all out against India signaled the lowest total by a full ICC member in Asia Cup T20I history. This unexpected collapse featured two run-outs and multiple poor shots under pressure. Hardik Pandya spearheaded India’s attack with 3 wickets for 8 runs, supported by Ravindra Jadeja’s economical spin. Only two Pakistan batters passed double digits. Despite this batting failure, Pakistan fought for wickets during India’s innings but eventually lost by five wickets.
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5. UAE – 82 runs vs Bangladesh (February 26, 2016, Mirpur)
Completing UAE’s hat-trick on the list is their 82 all out against Bangladesh at Mirpur, just a day before their low score against India. Bangladesh’s bowling, led by Mahmudullah’s 2 wickets for 5 runs and Mashrafe Mortaza’s medium pace, consistently applied pressure. Muhammad Usman’s 30 runs offered lone resistance. Multiple wickets came from soft dismissals and tight fielding. Bangladesh won by 51 runs, underscoring UAE’s persistent batting vulnerabilities in sub-continental conditions.
The unwanted consistency of UAE in Asia Cup batting failures
United Arab Emirates hold the dubious distinction of featuring in three of the five lowest totals in Asia Cup T20I history, a record that spans nearly a decade and highlights persistent batting vulnerabilities against superior opposition. Their appearances in this unwanted list include scores of 57 against India in 2025, 81/9 against India in 2016, and 82 against Bangladesh in 2016, demonstrating a concerning pattern of batting collapses across different eras of their cricket development. This frequency of low scores places UAE as the most represented team in the bottom tier of Asia Cup T20I batting performances, surpassing even established nations like Pakistan who appear only once in this list.
UAE’s most recent entry into this list was during the 2025 Asia Cup when they were bowled out for 57 against India in Dubai, their home venue. Despite the advantage of familiar conditions, UAE’s batting collapsed spectacularly against Kuldeep’s spin bowling, who claimed 4 wickets for just 7 runs in less than three overs. The batting order showed promise initially, reaching 26/0 in the fourth over, but the introduction of quality spin triggered a dramatic collapse that saw them lose all 10 wickets for just 31 runs. This pattern of early resistance followed by collapse has been a recurring theme in UAE’s Asia Cup performances.
These lowest totals in Asia Cup T20I history reveal the unforgiving nature of the format and the gulf between associate and full member nations. Teams like UAE face significant challenges in adapting to high-pressure environments and world-class bowling, but their persistence and progress offer hope for more competitive performances in future tournaments.
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