United Arab Emirates posted 122 for six after choosing to bat, anchored by Alishan Sharafu’s composed 45 from 38 balls. Early aggression from Muhammad Waseem provided impetus, yet regular wickets halted momentum and prevented a late surge in their latest match in ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. Disciplined bowling kept boundaries scarce and forced cautious strokeplay through the middle overs. The standout effort came from Corbin Bosch, whose accuracy and variations earned three crucial wickets while conceding little. Supported well by the attack, he ensured scoring never accelerated, leaving the innings competitive but within reach on a surface offering assistance.

Chasing the target, South Africa seized control instantly through attacking strokeplay. Aiden Markram smashed 28 off 11 deliveries, putting bowlers under pressure and slashing the required rate. Ryan Rickelton then added a fluent 30 that maintained tempo and prevented any comeback. Even as a couple of wickets fell, the batting unit stayed composed, rotating strike smartly and punishing loose balls. Partnerships flowed without disruption, ensuring the chase never drifted into danger and leaving the opposition searching desperately for breakthroughs as overs disappeared quickly and the outcome became increasingly inevitable late.

Dewald Brevis ultimately steered the pursuit with a polished 36 that balanced control and aggression, piercing gaps and clearing the ropes to dissolve lingering tension. Fielders were repeatedly shifted as he dictated tempo, while partners settled around him to keep momentum intact. The convincing finish highlighted South Africa’s superiority in execution, from precise bowling plans to confident batting intent. Although the United Arab Emirates showed flashes of promise through Sharafu’s resistance, inconsistency proved costly. The result emphasized the gap between the sides and sent a strong warning to future opponents.

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T20 World Cup 2026: Updated Points Table after RSA vs UAE Match 34

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

T20 World Cup 2026: Top Performances

Most Runs

Most Wickets

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) began its T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against New Zealand at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. After opting to bat first on a surface, which their captain, Mohammad Waseem, felt would remain the same for the entire game, it was important for them to get a good start inside the power play. 

UAE lost their wicket-keeper opening batter, Aryansh Sharma, early in the innings for eight runs in six balls as he was hurried by the pace of Jacob Duffy to play the pull shot and got dismissed. However, Muhammad Waseem gave them a good energy with a fine 6 against Duffy on the fourth delivery of the fourth over in the innings.

See Also: Australia face major injury setback ahead of T20 World Cup 2026 clash vs Ireland

It was a short delivery around the stump as the right-handed batter who loves hitting sixes arched back and used the pace of the bowler to ramp it over the slip cordon as it got plenty of energy to sail over the boundary rope for a massive six.

Muhammad Waseem upper cuts Jacob Duffy for 6 in T20 WC 2026 

After the Early wicket, the UAE captain and their number three batter, Alishan Sharafu, put up a fine partnership of 107 runs for the second wicket in 77 balls, where the latter ended up with 55 runs in 47 balls with the help of five boundaries and two sixes.

Watch the video here: 

@StarSportsIndia #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/6pTCQXewFo

— Cricket Everywhere✍🏻 (@Subhamk79241601) February 10, 2026

Sharafu was dismissed thanks to a fine catch in the combination of Mark Chapman and Darry Mitchell on the boundary rope, where the former understood the speed of the delivery coming at him and jumped at the right time to put a jump inside the field before Mitchell grabbed the simple catch to dismiss the left-handed batter to break the momentum of the Asian side.

For the second consecutive game, Mitchell Shantner bowled a fine spell of 1 for 23 in his four overs as he managed the speed but deliveries pretty well, having been familiar with the surface and playing at this ground. UAE finished with 173/6 in their allotted 20 overs with Waseem remaining unbeaten on 66 runs in 45 balls. 

Brief Scoes: UAE 173/6 (Muhammad Waseem 66*, Matt Henry 2/37) vs New Zealand 13/0 (Tim Seifert 7*) 

United Arab Emirates and Ireland will go head to head in the second and final T20I of the series at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday, 31 January UAE will be looking to level the series after losing the first match, while Ireland will be aiming to win the series with another good show.

Ireland won the first T20I comprehensively by 57 runs. Batting first, Ireland scored a competitive total of 178 for 6, with many players contributing important runs to the total. Ross Adair, Lorcan Tucker, Curtis Campher, Benjamin Calitz, and George Dockrell all contributed well and post a good total. UAE, on the other hand, struggled in the chase and were bowled out for 121. The batting lineup let the team down despite the good show by captain Muhammad Waseem, who scored 40. Matthew Humphreys and Gareth Delany starred with the ball for Ireland, picking up three wickets each.

UAE will be hoping to improve their batting and not have a collapse like the previous match. Ireland, on the other hand, will be taking confidence from their all-round performance and hoping to end the series on a positive note.

UAE vs IRE: Pitch Report 

The pitch in Dubai is expected to be similar to the one used in the first match. It offers a fair contest between bat and ball. Batters who spend some time at the crease can score freely, while spinners are likely to be effective during the middle overs as the pitch slows down.

UAE vs IRE: Head-to-Head (T20Is)

• Matches Played: 12
• UAE Won: 7
• Ireland Won: 5
• No Result: 0

See Also: IND vs NZ, 5th T20I: Head-to-head, pitch report & predicted playing XIs

UAE vs IRE: Predicted Playing XIs

United Arab Emirates (UAE):

Muhammad Waseem (C), Sohaib Khan, Rahul Chopra, Aryansh Sharma (WK), Alishan Sharafu, Harshit Kaushik, Basil Hameed, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Arfan, Muhammad Jawadullah

Ireland (IRE):

Paul Stirling (C), Curtis Campher, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (WK), Ross Adair, George Dockrell, Barry McCarthy, Mark Adair, Benjamin Calitz, Matthew Humphreys, Gareth Delany

The UAE Cricket Board has announced their team for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The team has made some changes from the team currently playing against Ireland in a two-match T20I series. Dhruv Parashar, an all-rounder, and Mayank Kumar (an opening batsman) have replaced Basil Hameed and Rahul Chopra. The selections show a desire by the selectors to reward form, balance and versatility as the UAE prepares for what is going to be the greatest challenge of its cricketing year with the global event taking place in India and Sri Lanka.

Captain Muhammad Waseem will be in charge of the squad of 15 players, continuing on as captain for the prestigious competition;only Waseem, Alishan Sharafu and Junaid Siddique were part of the UAE squad in the previous T20 World Cup in 2022. Waseem with 92 T20 International matches has the most experience in this squad as well as being the leading run-scorer in T20 for UAE. He provides not only leadership but also a wealth of reliability at the top of the batters.

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Junaid Siddique remains a key figure in the bowling attack, holding the record as UAE’s leading wicket-taker in T20 internationals. Basil Hameed and Rahul Chopra, meanwhile, were left out following underwhelming performances in the opening T20I against Ireland, where both batters failed to reach double figures. Hameed also endured a tough outing with the ball, conceding 28 runs in just two overs. The management opted for fresh options to strengthen the squad ahead of the demanding World Cup schedule.

UAE Group Challenge, Preparation, and Support Staff

Dhruv Parashar adds valuable experience to the middle order and bowling unit, having already represented UAE in 32 T20Is. He was notably part of a memorable half-century partnership that put Pakistan under pressure during last year’s Men’s T20 Asia Cup. Mayank Kumar, on the other hand, is seen as a promising talent. He made his international debut during the T20 World Cup Asia and EAP Qualifier and later featured in the Rising Stars T20 Asia Cup, impressing with his temperament and technique.

UAE have been drawn into Group D of the 20-team tournament, alongside Afghanistan, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. They will play warm-up matches against Nepal on February 3 and Italy on February 6 in Chennai before opening their campaign against New Zealand on February 10. The squad will then travel to Delhi for matches against Canada, Afghanistan, and South Africa. Former Pakistan pacer Yasir Arafat joins as fast-bowling coach, working alongside head coach Lalchand Rajput and fielding coach Stanley Chioza.

UAE squad for Men's T20 World Cup 2026

Muhammad Waseem (C), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (WK), Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Mayank Kumar, Muhammad Arfan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rohid Khan, Sohaib Khan, Simranjeet Singh

The United Arab Emirates and Ireland are set to face each other in the second T20I of the two-match series at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday, January 31. With Ireland already taking an unassailable lead, the hosts will be eager to bounce back and level the series on home soil. UAE will look to address their shortcomings from the opening game and put up a stronger all-round performance to challenge the visitors in the series finale.

Ireland delivered a dominant display in the opening T20I, securing a convincing 57-run victory at the same venue. Solid batting contributions from Ross Adair, Lorcan Tucker, Curtis Campher, Benjamin Calitz, and George Dockrell powered Ireland to a competitive 178/6. In response, UAE struggled and were dismissed for 121, despite captain Muhammad Waseem’s 40. Matthew Humphreys and Gareth Delany starred with the ball, claiming three wickets each.

See Also: Watch: Shivam Dube faces unfortunate run-out dismissal for 65 during IND vs NZ 4th T20I

UAE vs IRE, 2nd T20I: Live Streaming Details

UAE vs IRE, 2nd T20I: Probable Playing XI

United Arab Emirates (UAE):

Aryansh Sharma (WK), Muhammad Waseem (C), Sohaib Khan, Rahul Chopra, Alishan Sharafu, Harshit Kaushik, Basil Hameed, Muhammad Arfan, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah.

Ireland (IRE):

Paul Stirling (C), Ross Adair, Curtis Campher, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (WK), George Dockrell, Benjamin Calitz, Barry McCarthy, Mark Adair, Gareth Delany, Matthew Humphreys.

United Arab Emirates and Ireland will kick off their two-match T20I series with the first game at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, January 29. The two teams are meeting in a T20I after a long gap, adding extra interest to the opening match.

UAE will use this series as important preparation ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. Led by Muhammad Waseem, the hosts will look to make the most of familiar conditions. Waseem is likely to play an important role in the opening, while the remaining batting lineup will have to work towards providing support.

Ireland have had good recent results as they played a T20I series against Italy in Dubai recently and won it 2-1. That experience in similar conditions should help them settle quickly. With several experienced players in the squad, Ireland will be confident of starting the series on a positive note.

UAE vs IRE Head-to-Head in T20Is

• Matches Played: 11
  
• UAE Won: 7
  
• Ireland Won: 4
  
• Tied / No Result: 0

UAE vs IRE: Pitch Report

The Dubai pitch usually offers a fair contest between bat and ball. Batters can get runs freely in the initial stages, but the pitch may slow down as the match progresses. Chasing might be possible, but teams will have to adjust as the ball might not come on to the bat as easily in the second innings.

See Also: PAK vs AUS, 1st T20I: Head-to-head, pitch report & predicted playing XIs

UAE vs IRE: Predicted Playing XIs

United Arab Emirates (UAE):

Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Waseem (c), Rahul Chopra (wk), Aryansh Sharma, Sohaib Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Harshit Kaushik, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Simranjeet Singh, Muhammad Rohid

Ireland (IRE):

Paul Stirling (c), Ross Adair, Curtis Campher, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), George Dockrell, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Gareth Delany, Craig Young, Mark Adair

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ireland (IRE) are all set to kick off their two-match T20I series, with the first game scheduled at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, January 29. The two teams last faced each other in a T20I back in February 2022. The UAE will aim to make the most of their time in the middle ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. Captain Muhammad Waseem is expected to play a crucial role with the bat while leading the team tactically.

Ireland comes into the series with confidence after winning a three-match T20I series against Italy in Dubai, taking the contest 2-1. The side has used the preparation period effectively, giving players valuable match practice ahead of the World Cup. Ireland will aim to build on that momentum, experimenting with strategies and combinations to fine-tune their team. Both encounters will serve as a key opportunity for the Irish squad to assess conditions and sharpen skills ahead of the mega tournament starting February 7.

See Also: 'Batting first to challenge...' - Former India player criticizes team selection after India's defeat in IND vs NZ 4th T20I

Ireland tour of United Arab Emirates, 1st T20I, UAE vs IRE: Live Streaming Details

Ireland tour of United Arab Emirates, 1st T20I, UAE vs IRE: Probable Playing XI

United Arab Emirates (UAE):

Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Waseem (C), Rahul Chopra (WK), Aryansh Sharma, Sohaib Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Harshit Kaushik, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Simranjeet Singh, Muhammad Rohid

Ireland (IRE):

Paul Stirling (C), Ross Adair, Curtis Campher, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (WK), George Dockrell, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Gareth Delany, Craig Young, Mark Adair