ICC T20 World Cup (2026): UAE squad announced

[Ball Blazer]

UAE's star batter Muhammad Waseem will lead the 15-member contingent for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup, commencing next month.

The team claimed their place in the 20-member tournament after a win over Japan in their Super Six clash at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia & East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Qualifier in Oman.

Squad: Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Mayank Kumar, Muhammad Arfan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rohid Khan, Sohaib Khan, Simranjeet Singh.

While Lalchand Rajput is the head coach, the coaching staff is joined by former Pakistan international Yasir Arafat, who will be the fast bowling coach. Zimbabwe’s Stanley Chioza will serve as team’s fielding coach for the tournament.

The Asian side has previously participated twice in the marquee event with group stage finishes both in 2014 and 2022.

The UAE are facing-off against Ireland for a two-match T20I series, before heading to the T20 World Cup. They'll feature in two warm-up fixtures against Nepal (3 February) and Italy (6 February), before beginning their campaign against New Zealand on February 10 in Chennai.

They will also lock horns against Canada, Afghanistan and South Africa, who are also drawn in Group D in the mega event.

 

[Rana]

Hopefully knocked out first round

Snake board!

 

[Bhaijaan]

Good luck to our strategic partners in the region and caretakers of Sanatan in the Middle East.

One love.

Good luck UAE always Yalla habibi let’s go dear

 

[Rana]

Milking ICC funding by building a player pool on Pakistani rejects…

And then snaking the PCB more often than not.

Bhaar main jaye UAE cricket!

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Seems like an Indo-Pak XI.

They may make cricket history as the first team where the team mates don't shake hands

 

[sweep_shot]

Hopefully knocked out first round

Snake board!

They are likely to lose all games.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Not gonna win a single game IMO... Upsets are part of game but UAE?? Nay

 

[Cricket Warrior]

UAE send Muhammad Zohaib home for disciplinary reasons

On the eve of their first match of T20 World Cup 2026, UAE have sent batter Muhammad Zohaib back home for "disciplinary reasons". In a statement issued on Monday, the Emirates Cricket Board said "more details will be provided in due course."

On Tuesday, UAE are set to face New Zealand in Chennai for their first World Cup game since 2022. The loss of one of their top-order batters puts more pressure on a line-up that was bowled out for 81 in its most recent outing - a warm-up game against Italy on Friday.

Zohaib batted at No. 9 in that game. In UAE's previous warm-up game, against Nepal, he scored a 26-ball 19 at No. 3. UAE have already settled on 21-year-old Aryansh Sharma to partner their captain Muhammad Waseem at the top of the order.

Zohaib made his debut for UAE in May 2025. He's played 16 T20Is and scored 303 runs at an average of 20.20 and a strike rate of 103.76.

Waseem spoke about UAE's preparation and their unity - given the squad is made up of both Indian- and Pakistani-origin players - in the lead-up to the New Zealand match. He said the players would take confidence from UAE's win over New Zealand in a T20I in Dubai in 2023.

"Our strategy is very simple," Waseem said. "We beat them before in UAE but this time it's a different venue, different tournament, different ground, and different game also. So we came with another plan right now. So yes, they are a good team and have experience also. But we work very well and we have prepared ourselves like a champion team. We will try to play good cricket against them tomorrow"

About his squad, Waseem said, "there is no India-Pakistan. We are playing for the UAE and we are always treating ourselves like a family. We are living like a family, friends. We are spending time together, eating together. There is no Indian-Pakistani in the UAE team to be honest."

UAE send Muhammad Zohaib home for disciplinary reasons

The Emirates Cricket Board has said more "details will be provided in due course" | ESPN.in

www.espn.in

 

[The Bald Eagle]

UAE player Mohammed Zohaib, who was sent home from the World Cup on disciplinary grounds, said:

“I was told to say that I had an injury but I told them I was fit. I was also told to inform the Emirates board and the ICC that my mother was unwell and I needed to leave. I didn’t want to exit the World Cup, and I still don’t know why they wanted to send me back

UAE send Muhammad Zohaib home for disciplinary reasons

On the eve of their first match of T20 World Cup 2026, UAE have sent batter Muhammad Zohaib back home for "disciplinary reasons". In a statement issued on Monday, the Emirates Cricket Board said "more details will be provided in due course."

On Tuesday, UAE are set to face New Zealand in Chennai for their first World Cup game since 2022. The loss of one of their top-order batters puts more pressure on a line-up that was bowled out for 81 in its most recent outing - a warm-up game against Italy on Friday.

Zohaib batted at No. 9 in that game. In UAE's previous warm-up game, against Nepal, he scored a 26-ball 19 at No. 3. UAE have already settled on 21-year-old Aryansh Sharma to partner their captain Muhammad Waseem at the top of the order.

Zohaib made his debut for UAE in May 2025. He's played 16 T20Is and scored 303 runs at an average of 20.20 and a strike rate of 103.76.

Waseem spoke about UAE's preparation and their unity - given the squad is made up of both Indian- and Pakistani-origin players - in the lead-up to the New Zealand match. He said the players would take confidence from UAE's win over New Zealand in a T20I in Dubai in 2023.

"Our strategy is very simple," Waseem said. "We beat them before in UAE but this time it's a different venue, different tournament, different ground, and different game also. So we came with another plan right now. So yes, they are a good team and have experience also. But we work very well and we have prepared ourselves like a champion team. We will try to play good cricket against them tomorrow"

About his squad, Waseem said, "there is no India-Pakistan. We are playing for the UAE and we are always treating ourselves like a family. We are living like a family, friends. We are spending time together, eating together. There is no Indian-Pakistani in the UAE team to be honest."

UAE send Muhammad Zohaib home for disciplinary reasons

The Emirates Cricket Board has said more "details will be provided in due course" | ESPN.in

www.espn.in

.”

 

[Fenrir]

I don’t understand why UAE team is full of Indian?Are Zionists going to represent UAE too?.

 

[Fenrir]

Seems like an Indo-Pak XI.

They may make cricket history as the first team where the team mates don't shake hands

UAE snakes will have Israeli players in UAE team in future.