The United Arab Emirates (UAE) cricket team kicked off their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia & EAP Qualifier 2025 campaign in style, registering a commanding 7-wicket victory over Qatar. The thrilling match took place on 8 October 2025 at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Oman, where UAE’s disciplined bowling and steady batting ensured a confident start to their tournament journey.
🏏 Match Highlights & Key Performances
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Qatar found themselves in early trouble. Their openers were dismissed for ducks, and by the end of just two overs, they were struggling at 5 for 3. The UAE bowlers made full use of the conditions, applying constant pressure right from the start.
Trying to rebuild the innings, Mirza Mohammed Baig played a gritty knock of 30 off 29 balls, while Shahzaib Jamil contributed 20 off 17 deliveries, hitting some powerful shots to keep the scoreboard ticking. However, their efforts weren’t enough as Qatar’s batting lineup faltered once again, ending their innings at 118 for 8 in 20 overs.
In reply, UAE’s chase was calm and composed. After losing two early wickets, Alishan Sharafu and Harshit Kaushik anchored the innings with a brilliant 76-run partnership. Sharafu’s unbeaten 51 was the highlight of the chase, showcasing patience and maturity, while Kaushik provided crucial support with timely boundaries. UAE reached the target comfortably at 119 for 3, with 9 balls to spare, sealing a well-deserved victory. This T20 was really fantastic.
🇦🇪 UAE get their first win of the qualifiers! ✅
— Associate Chronicles (@AssociateChrons) October 8, 2025
There were a few hiccups during the chase, but they got the job done in the end.
Full credit to 🇶🇦 Qatar though — the scorecard doesn’t really show how well they fought 👏 pic.twitter.com/VAcbdnbbKt
🔍 What This Win Means for UAE
This opening victory gives UAE a massive boost in confidence, momentum, and net run rate — all vital in the early stages of a qualification tournament. Starting strong not only builds morale within the squad but also sends a message to the rest of the teams in the group: UAE are here to dominate.
For Qatar, the match was a tough lesson. Their top-order collapse exposed vulnerabilities under pressure, something they’ll need to address quickly if they want to stay competitive. The middle order showed resilience, but consistency will be key in upcoming fixtures.
The UAE’s approach — controlled, strategic, and focused — reflects the team’s growing maturity. They balanced aggression with smart shot selection, avoiding unnecessary risks while capitalizing on Qatar’s mistakes. If they continue with this disciplined mindset, UAE could easily emerge as one of the strongest contenders in the qualifiers due to the victory in this T20.
Table of Contents
Checkout More Content:
About The Author
