Muhammad Waseem Appointed UAE Captain for ICC T20 World Cup 2026
The Emirates Cricket Board has officially named Muhammad Waseem as the captain of the United Arab Emirates cricket team for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026. This significant announcement was made on Friday, confirming Waseem's leadership role for the prestigious tournament that begins next month.
UAE's Qualification and Tournament Preparation
The UAE secured their place in the 20-team tournament following a crucial victory over Japan during the Super Six stage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia & East Asia-Pacific Qualifier held in Oman last year. This qualification marks their third appearance in the T20 World Cup, having previously participated in 2014 and 2022, where they were eliminated at the group stage on both occasions.
In preparation for their World Cup campaign, the UAE team will engage in a two-match T20I series against Ireland. Additionally, they have scheduled warm-up matches against Nepal on February 3 and Italy on February 6 to fine-tune their strategies and team coordination.
Coaching Staff and Team Composition
The coaching staff brings considerable international experience to the UAE squad. Lalchand Rajput, who played a pivotal role in India's triumph during the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, will serve as head coach. He will be supported by former Pakistan international Yasir Arafat as fast bowling coach and Zimbabwe's Stanley Chioza as fielding coach.
The 15-member squad represents a blend of seasoned players and promising newcomers. Three players from the UAE's last T20 World Cup appearance in Australia 2022 have been included: captain Muhammad Waseem, Alishan Sharafu, and Junaid Siddique. Waseem brings extensive leadership experience, having captained the UAE for the past three years and led the team in 66 of his 92 international matches.
Tournament Schedule and Group Stage Challenges
The UAE finds itself in Group D, which presents formidable challenges. Their group includes Canada, Afghanistan, former champions New Zealand, and last year's finalists South Africa. The UAE's tournament opener is scheduled against New Zealand on February 10 in Chennai.
Following their initial match, the team will travel to Delhi to complete their Group D fixtures. Their remaining matches include:
- February 13: UAE vs Canada
- February 16: UAE vs Afghanistan
- February 18: UAE vs South Africa
The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eights stage is set to commence on February 21, providing an opportunity for top-performing teams to advance further in the competition.
Complete UAE Squad for T20 World Cup 2026
The Emirates Cricket Board has announced the following 15-player squad:
- Muhammad Waseem (Captain)
- Alishan Sharafu
- Aryansh Sharma
- Dhruv Parashar
- Haider Ali
- Harshit Kaushik
- Junaid Siddique
- Mayank Kumar
- Muhammad Arfan
- Muhammad Farooq
- Muhammad Jawadullah
- Muhammad Zohaib
- Rohid Khan
- Sohaib Khan
- Simranjeet Singh
This diverse squad combines experienced campaigners with emerging talents, aiming to make a significant impact in the tournament and potentially advance beyond the group stage for the first time in UAE's T20 World Cup history.
