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New Zealand defied injury and illness concerns to script an impressive opening victory over Afghanistan in the so-called group of death, which also features South Africa, significantly boosting their chances of progressing to the next round. Their next challenge, however, comes against an unfamiliar opponent, with only six players in New Zealand’s 15-member squad having previously faced the UAE in international cricket.
The Black Caps will lean on insights from Mark Chapman, who encountered the UAE frequently during his time representing Hong Kong, and Lockie Ferguson, who is well acquainted with several UAE players after captaining the Desert Vipers in the ILT20. Despite their pedigree, New Zealand will be wary of underestimating the UAE—especially after suffering a shock defeat in Dubai in 2023 with a squad that included Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, and Chapman.
For the UAE, this fixture presents an opportunity to reassert themselves on the global stage after missing out on qualification for the 2024 T20 World Cup. Although they have won just one of their six matches in T20 World Cup history, regular participation in the ILT20 has ensured their players remain sharp and competitive in the format.
Captain Muhammad Waseem is renowned for his power-hitting, while Alishan Sharafu offers similar explosiveness and flexibility in the batting order. With the ball, left-arm spinner Haider Ali can apply early pressure through his accuracy in the powerplay, and pacer Junaid Siddique is known for his pinpoint yorkers at the death.
The UAE recently stunned Bangladesh in a bilateral T20I series and pushed Pakistan hard during the Asia Cup, and they will be eager to claim more high-profile scalps in international cricket.
Squads:
New Zealand Squad: Tim Seifert(w), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner(c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway
United Arab Emirates Squad: Aryansh Sharma(w), Muhammad Waseem(c), Muhammad Zohaib, Alishan Sharafu, Harshit Kaushik, Mayank Kumar, Dhruv Parashar, Muhammad Arfan, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh, Sohaib Khan, Muhammad Farooq
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The Black Caps will lean on insights from Mark Chapman, who encountered the UAE frequently during his time representing Hong Kong, and Lockie Ferguson, who is well acquainted with several UAE players after captaining the Desert Vipers in the ILT20. Despite their pedigree, New Zealand will be wary of underestimating the UAE—especially after suffering a shock defeat in Dubai in 2023 with a squad that included Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, and Chapman.
For the UAE, this fixture presents an opportunity to reassert themselves on the global stage after missing out on qualification for the 2024 T20 World Cup. Although they have won just one of their six matches in T20 World Cup history, regular participation in the ILT20 has ensured their players remain sharp and competitive in the format.
Captain Muhammad Waseem is renowned for his power-hitting, while Alishan Sharafu offers similar explosiveness and flexibility in the batting order. With the ball, left-arm spinner Haider Ali can apply early pressure through his accuracy in the powerplay, and pacer Junaid Siddique is known for his pinpoint yorkers at the death.
The UAE recently stunned Bangladesh in a bilateral T20I series and pushed Pakistan hard during the Asia Cup, and they will be eager to claim more high-profile scalps in international cricket.
Squads:
New Zealand Squad: Tim Seifert(w), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner(c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway
United Arab Emirates Squad: Aryansh Sharma(w), Muhammad Waseem(c), Muhammad Zohaib, Alishan Sharafu, Harshit Kaushik, Mayank Kumar, Dhruv Parashar, Muhammad Arfan, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh, Sohaib Khan, Muhammad Farooq
=======
All posters, please take note of the following guidelines for match threads on PakPassion:
1. No personal insults at other posters, players, officials, coaching staff, etc.
2. No making fun of players', officials', or coaching staff's names.
3. Do not add any references to media, their social media, or post any pictures or screenshots from other sports websites.
4. Stick to commenting on this match. There is no need to bring other countries into the match discussion, as there are plenty of other threads where those discussions can be added.
