Top 3 players to watch from UAE ahead of Asia Cup 2025

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) featured in the tri-series 2025 at home against Pakistan and Afghanistan to prepare for the upcoming Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025, which is scheduled to begin on September 09 as they would face India in their opening game on the following day at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The UAE side, however, didn’t earn a single victory in the tri-series.

Muhammed Waseem will be leading the squad for the Asia Cup. His role in the leadership department and the opening position will be crucial for the team. Along with him, Asif Khan, the second leading run-getter in T20Is for the UAE, is also expected to play a huge role with the bat.

See Also: 'Hadn't seen him play but...'- Former RCB star recalls first meeting with MS Dhoni

United Arab Emirates Squad: Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma, Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan D'Souza, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Matiullah Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra, Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh, Saghir Khan.

After facing the UAE in their opening game, they will lock horns with Oman on September 15 in the afternoon clash and later against Pakistan on September 17 in Dubai.

Let’s take a look at the top 3 players to watch from UAE ahead of Asia Cup 2025

3. Asif Khan

The Lahore right-handed batter for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Asif Khan, has been a vital member of the eleven in the lower middle order. In the batting department, he has smashed 1298 runs in 53 T20I innings at an average of over 30 and a strike rate of nearly 140, thanks to six half-centuries at the best score of 79 runs.

In the shortest format, Asif has clubbed 1342 T20 runs in 55 innings at an average of just below 30 and a strike rate of 139.64, scoring six fifties at the best score of 79 runs. Quite interestingly, he featured in just one clash of the International League T20 for the Mumbai Emirates in 2023/24 but didn’t get the chance to bat.

In the recently concluded Tri-series, Asif bashed 125 runs in four innings, with 77 runs coming against Pakistan at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

2. Muhammad Waseem

The captain and the opening batter of the United Arab Emirates, Muhammad Waseem, is the 11th leading T20I run getter and the highest run-getter of the side. The 31-year-old has drilled 2922 runs in 82 innings of the T20Is at an average of nearly 38 and a strike rate of 155.67, with the help of 23 half-centuries and three centuries at the best score of 112.

In 111 T20 innings, the right-handed batter has dashed 3585 runs at an average of nearly 35 and a strike rate of 153, scoring 26 half-centuries and three centuries at the best score of 112. Playing for the MIE in the last edition of the ILT20, he bashed 183 runs in 10 innings.

Waseem has always been a consistent yet aggressive batter in the opening position for the UAE. In the tri-series, he notched up 163 runs in four innings at an average of over 40, with 67 runs coming against Afghanistan.

1. Haider Ali

The slow left-arm spinner of the UAE side, Haider Ali, is another vital member of the side. In 13 T20I innings, he has picked up 22 wickets at an average of under 13, a strike rate of 14.1, and an economy rate of under six, with the best bowling figures of 4/16 in an inning.

In the overall 30 innings of the shortest format, Ali has bagged 31 scalps at an average of under 19, a strike rate of 18.7, and an economy rate of under six, with 4/16 as the best. One of Haider’s excellent skills is how he varies the pace and spin with the ball against different batters of the side.

Against Afghanistan and twice against Pakistan, Haider picked up two wickets during the tri-series, which has always contributed to helping the side gain dominance in the middle overs of the innings. His role on those slow and low Dubai and Abu Dhabi surfaces will be important for the UAE side to hold the key to the event.