The United Arab Emirates (UAE) have announced their 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup, set to begin on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. Led by Mohammad Waseem, the UAE side will be coached by former India international Lalchand Rajput, who was part of India’s support staff during their historic 2007 T20 World Cup triumph.
Having secured qualification by defeating Japan in the Oman qualifiers, UAE enter the tournament with a blend of experience and youthful energy, aiming to spring surprises against stronger opponents on the global stage.
Strong Coaching Setup Boosts UAE’s Hopes
UAE have invested heavily in their coaching structure ahead of the marquee event. Alongside head coach Lalchand Rajput, former Pakistan fast bowler Yasir Arafat has been appointed as bowling coach, while Stanley Chioza of Zimbabwe will oversee fielding duties.
UAE have been placed in Group D, widely regarded as one of the toughest groups in the tournament. The group features heavyweights South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, and Canada. As part of their final preparations, UAE will play a warm-up match against Italy on February 6 in Chennai.
Challenging Group Stage Schedule
UAE’s group-stage fixtures are as follows:
- vs New Zealand – February 10, Chennai
- vs Canada – February 13, Delhi
- vs Afghanistan – February 16, Delhi
- vs South Africa – February 18, Delhi
The demanding schedule will test the team’s depth, adaptability, and mental toughness.
Preparation and Recent Form
Currently, the Mohammad Waseem-led side is engaged in a home T20 series against Ireland. UAE suffered a 57-run defeat in the opening match but remain optimistic of bouncing back in the second game on January 31. This tournament marks UAE’s third appearance at a T20 World Cup, having previously featured in the 2012 and 2014 editions, underlining their steady progress in international cricket.
UAE Squad for T20 World Cup
Mohammad Waseem (Captain), Alishan Sharafu, Aryan Sharma, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddiqui, Mayank Kumar, Mohammad Arafat, Mohammad Farooq, Mohammad Jawadullah, Mohammad Zohaib, Rohit Khan, Sohaib Khan, Simranjeet Singh.
With an experienced leadership group and guidance from a proven World Cup-winning coach, UAE will be hoping to turn their underdog status into a story of resilience and upset victories at the T20 World Cup.
Discover more from SD NEWS agency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.