Muhammad Waseem Returns as UAE T20I Captain for Bangladesh Series

Muhammad Waseem has been reinstated as captain of the United Arab Emirates T20I team ahead of their two-match series against Bangladesh, which begins later this week in Sharjah. The series, scheduled for May 17 and 19, marks UAE’s return to the T20I format after a five-month hiatus.

Waseem had previously stepped down from captaincy in October 2024, after leading UAE in 26 T20Is across two years. His decision was driven by a desire to focus on improving his ODI performances. In his absence, wicketkeeper-batter Rahul Chopra had assumed leadership duties.

Despite stepping back from the captaincy, Waseem has remained a cornerstone of UAE’s T20I lineup. Since his debut in 2021, he has scored more T20I runs than any other player globally—an impressive feat for the top-order batter. However, his recent form has waned, particularly in the ILT20, where he failed to notch a single half-century. His last fifty in T20Is came against Qatar in December, during the Gulf T20 Championship, where UAE lifted the trophy by defeating Kuwait in the final.

The upcoming Bangladesh series represents a significant step up in competition. While the Gulf T20 Championship featured regional sides such as Oman, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh brings proven international pedigree to the Sharjah fixture.

UAE’s Form Guide and Squad Outlook

The UAE comes into the series on the back of a challenging outing in the Cricket World Cup League 2, where they lost four of their five matches in the Netherlands—two each against Scotland and the Netherlands. Their sole victory came against Scotland, thanks to a century by Rahul Chopra and a standout four-wicket haul by left-arm spinner Simranjeet Singh.

The squad for the Bangladesh series is a mix of youth and experience, including multiple spin options and promising young batters. With Waseem back at the helm, UAE will hope for a more settled approach and stronger performances against the formidable Bangladeshi side.

UAE Squad for T20I Series vs Bangladesh:

• Muhammad Waseem (captain)
• Rahul Chopra (wicketkeeper)
• Alishan Sharafu
• Aryansh Sharma
• Asif Khan
• Dhruv Parashar
• Ethan D’Souza
• Haider Ali
• Matiullah Khan
• Muhammad Jawadullah
• Muhammad Zohaib
• Muhammad Zuhaib
• Saghir Khan
• Sanchit Sharma
• Simranjeet Singh