UAE Announces Squad for T20I Tri-Series Against Pakistan and Afghanistan Ahead of Asia Cup

Muhammad Waseem to lead UAE in Sharjah as four new players join the squad; series to prepare team for Asia Cup 2025.

New Delhi [India], August 27: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday announced its 15-member squad for the upcoming triangular T20I series against Pakistan and Afghanistan, scheduled to be played in Sharjah from August 29 to September 7. The series will serve as crucial preparation for the Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025, which begins on September 9 in the UAE.

Star batter Muhammad Waseem will lead the side, while four players — Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, and Muhammad Jawadullah — have been included in the squad. Meanwhile, Akif Raja, Matiullah Khan, and Zuhaib Zubair have missed out this time.

Kaushik, a 28-year-old middle-order batter and part-time left-arm spinner, is yet to make his international debut. Siddique, one of UAE’s most experienced medium pacers with 59 ODIs and 71 T20Is, adds depth to the bowling unit. Jawadullah, a 26-year-old left-arm pacer, has already picked up 54 wickets in 33 T20Is, while Farooq, a leg-spinning all-rounder, brings balance to the squad.

The core of the team remains stable with the presence of Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma, Rahul Chopra, and Muhammad Zohaib, who was UAE’s standout performer in the Pearl of Africa Cup. Saghir Khan is also expected to play a key role in the middle order.

UAE, coached by former India opener Lalchand Rajput, will open their tri-series campaign against Pakistan on August 30, followed by matches against Afghanistan on September 1, Pakistan on September 4, and Afghanistan again on September 5. The final will be held on September 7, just two days before the start of the Asia Cup, where UAE will face a challenging group alongside India, Pakistan, and Oman.

The squad for the Asia Cup will be announced later.

UAE squad for T20I tri-series:
Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wk), Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan D’Souza, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Rohid Khan, Saghir Khan.