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In a crucial Group A encounter of the Asia Cup 2025, Oman captain Jatinder Singh won the toss and elected to bowl first against the United Arab Emirates at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Both teams entered this fixture desperately seeking their first victory of the tournament after suffering heavy defeats in their opening matches.
The match has effectively become a must-win situation for both sides as they aim to keep their Super Four qualification hopes alive. UAE were bundled out for a mere 57 runs against India in their tournament opener, while Oman managed only 67 runs while chasing Pakistan‘s 160. With India and Pakistan already securing crucial points in Group A, this clash represents the last realistic chance for either team to progress.
Oman opt for 3 big changes in crucial match against UAE
In a bid to arrest their slide after the loss to Pakistan, Oman have brought in all-rounders Wasim Ali and debutant Aryan Bisht alongside left-arm seamer Jiten Ramanandi. Bisht, aged 20, earns his first T20I cap, replacing Mohammad Nadeem, while Ali and Ramanandi come in for Sufyan Mehmood and Zikria Islam. “The boys will apply themselves and we will have a good day,” said Jatinder. The new trio must adapt quickly to Abu Dhabi’s fast-travelling night wicket, which Singh believes offers true pace and carry for bowlers.
Meanwhile, UAE captain Muhammad Waseem confirmed one change to his side, with Muhammad Jawadullah replacing Simranjeet Singh. Waseem expressed confidence in bowling first, citing favourable early conditions: “The pitch is looking good and might help bowlers.” UAE will rely on experienced campaigners like Alishan Sharafu and Asif Khan to chase a target under lights, but must overcome the pressure of registering their sixth win against Oman.
Also READ: Gautam Gambhir’s emotional message after India’s emphatic win over Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025
Playing XI of both the teams
Oman: Aamir Kaleem, Jatinder Singh (c), Hammad Mirza, Vinayak Shukla (wk), Wasim Ali, Hassnain Shah, Shah Faisal, Aryan Bisht, Shakeel Ahmed, Samay Shrivastava, Jiten Ramanandi
United Arab Emirates: Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Waseem (c), Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Asif Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Muhammad Jawadullah, Junaid Siddique
