Waseem Acknowledges India’s Effective Strategies Against UAE Batters

DUBAI: Following a significant defeat in their ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 opener against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, United Arab Emirates (UAE) captain Muhammad Waseem expressed his confidence in the team’s potential for a strong recovery.

After being put in to bat, the UAE batting lineup managed to score only 57 runs before being bowled out in 13.1 overs.

The innings began with some promise as the opening partnership of Alishan Sharafu (22) and captain Waseem (19) contributed 26 runs at a rapid pace.

However, following the dismissal of both openers, the Indian bowling attack swiftly dismantled the remaining batsmen, restricting UAE to their lowest score in T20Is.

India responded by comfortably reaching the 58-run target, losing just one wicket and with 93 balls remaining.

Abhishek Sharma, the left-handed opener, led the chase with a top score of 30 off 16 balls, including three sixes and two fours. Shubman Gill supported him with an unbeaten 20 off nine balls.

During the post-match presentation, Waseem noted that while their batting had a positive start, the successive loss of wickets was detrimental. He also commended India for the successful execution of their plans tailored to each UAE batter.

“Our batting started well, but losing wickets in quick succession hurt us. India is an excellent team with a strong bowling attack. They are implementing their strategies effectively against each batter, which is why they are the No.1 team,” Waseem stated.

This defeat is a major setback for UAE’s Asia Cup 2025 campaign, resulting in a net run rate of negative 10.483. Nevertheless, Waseem remains optimistic about a positive turnaround.

“As a team, we are committed to learning from our mistakes and making a strong comeback.”