The United Arab Emirates have announced their 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with star batter Muhammad Waseem set to lead the side at the marquee tournament beginning next month in India and Sri Lanka.
The Asian outfit sealed qualification after defeating Japan in their Super Six clash at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia & East Asia-Pacific Qualifier in Oman, booking their place among the 20 teams set to compete in the global showpiece.
Waseem, one of the most consistent performers in associate cricket, will once again shoulder the responsibility at the top of the order after playing a pivotal role during the qualification campaign.
The squad features a strong blend of experience and youth, with several players returning from the 2022 World Cup campaign, while a number of emerging names have been rewarded for their performances in regional competitions.
Squad: Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma, 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 batting unit will revolve around Waseem and Sharafu, while Aryansh Sharma provides the wicketkeeping option. The presence of all-rounders such as Simranjeet Singh, Dhruv Parashar and Mayank Kumar offers balance to the side.
In the bowling department, the pace attack will be spearheaded by Junaid Siddique alongside Muhammad Jawadullah and Harshit Kaushik, with spin duties expected to be handled by Muhammad Farooq and Muhammad Zohaib.
UAE will be coached by Lalchand Rajput, with former Pakistan international Yasir Arafat joining the setup as fast bowling coach. Zimbabwe’s Stanley Chioza will take charge of fielding preparations during the tournament.
Drawn in Group D, UAE will face New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan and Canada. The team will begin their campaign against New Zealand on February 10 in Chennai, before taking on the remaining group opponents.
As part of their preparation, UAE will play a two-match T20I series against Ireland, followed by warm-up fixtures against Nepal on February 3 and Italy on February 6.
The Asian side has previously featured in the 2014 and 2022 editions of the T20 World Cup, exiting at the group stage on both occasions. With improved depth and growing international exposure, the 2026 tournament presents another opportunity for UAE to make a strong impression on the world stage.
