Muhammad Waseem named captain as UAE announces squad for Ireland series ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

The UAE will use a two-match T20I series against Ireland as their final piece of preparation before the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with the tournament now less than two weeks away. While several teams have already locked in their World Cup squads, UAE are still weighing their options and have until midnight on January 30 to submit their final list.

Led by Muhammad Waseem, UAE face Ireland in Dubai on January 29 and January 31, with both matches offering valuable game time ahead of the long trip to the subcontinent. The first T20I will be played under lights on Thursday evening, while the second gets underway on Saturday morning. Conditions in Dubai are expected to be closer to what the side will face later in the tournament, making the series particularly important for fine-tuning combinations.

UAE set for tough Group D test at T20 World Cup

UAE booked their World Cup spot in dramatic fashion, becoming the final team to qualify after a strong showing at the Asia & East Asia-Pacific Qualifier in October 2025. That campaign showcased the depth in their batting and the growing reliability of their bowling attack, both of which will be tested heavily in Group D.

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At the World Cup, UAE begin their campaign against New Zealand in Chennai on February 10 before travelling to Delhi to face Canada on February 13 and Afghanistan on February 16. They wrap up the group stage with a clash against South Africa on February 18. Prior to that, official warm-up matches against Nepal on February 3 and Italy on February 6 will provide another chance to assess form and fitness.

While the World Cup squad is still under wraps, the Ireland series selection offers a strong hint at the core group UAE are backing heading into the global event.

UAE squad for T20I series vs Ireland:

Muhammad Waseem (capt), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wk), Basil Hameed, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Arfan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Rohid Khan, Sohaib Khan and Simranjeet Singh.