Before their first game of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have got an awkward shock, as an opener has been sent home. 

The UAE are ready to experience their third T20 World Cup, with their first game in the 2026 edition on Tuesday afternoon (February 10), when they will face New Zealand in Group D at Chennai.  

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Muhammad Zohaib sent back home for disciplinary reasons

However, before their tournament opener, UAE opener Muhammad Zohaib has been sent home, with the board stating "disciplinary reasons" for this latest action. The details of this surprise exclusion are yet to be known.

The 27-year-old Muhammad Zohaib is known for his opening batting, who made his international cricket debut for the UAE in 2025. He has played 16 T20Is for his national team, scoring 303 runs with an average of 20.20 and a strike rate of 103.76, including one half-century.

In the warm-up fixture before the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, Muhammad Zohaib scored 19 and 16 runs against Nepal and Italy, respectively. 

Zohaib was present during the T20 Asia Cup 2025, where he scored 27 runs in three innings. 

There is no India-Pakistan: UAE captain

While the UAE team has been built up with Indian and Pakistani origin players, and there are massive heats in the present political and cricket relations between India and Pakistan, the UAE captain Muhammad Waseem has clarified that there is no India-Pakistan rivalry in the UAE team, as all players are ready to serve for the UAE.

In the pre-match press conference, the UAE captain said, "There is no India-Pakistan. We are playing for the UAE and we are always treating ourselves like a family. We are living like a family, friends. We are spending time together, eating together. There is no Indian-Pakistani in the UAE team to be honest."