UAE Skipper Confident Of Pulling An Upset Against India Or Pakistan

The UAE are hosting the T20 Asia Cup in 2025, although India are designate hosts. All eyes are on their big-hitting skipper Muhammad Waseem, who is by far their best batter. 

He recently gave Afghanistan some trouble in the tri-series that involved Pakistan as well, and would be looking to repeat the performances in the Asia Cup as well as the UAE are slotted in Group A along with India, Pakistan and Oman. He also proclaimed that the UAE have the capacity to beat India or Pakistan in their group. 

“We've been working very hard for the past two to three months and can beat anyone in this format,” Waseem said in an interview with ESPN Cricinfo.  

“It comes down to what kind of cricket we play on the day, and whether we apply ourselves the way we've planned it. We can absolutely inflict an upset on either India or Pakistan. We could beat Oman, and we'll target one of these two and eye a run to the Super Four.”

While the UAE Skipper acknowledged that it will take some time for the local team to garner some support for itself, he remarked on how far UAE cricket has come in the past few years. 

“Five years ago, only your mates and your parents came to watch you here. Now, we see crowds coming to watch and support us,” Waseem said. 

“In the matches coming up, we can expect some support, and I'd like to call on cricket fans here to come out and support us during the Asia Cup.

“The last three years, the ILT20 has been a huge help to the players. Because there are a lot of big-name players in there. It places you in a different kind of pressurised learning environment that help you learn things which prove useful in international cricket.”