In a major leadership announcement ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the United Arab Emirates has appointed star batter Mohammad Wasim as captain. The tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, kicks off on February 7, promising high-octane cricket action across iconic venues.
Wasim, who brings a wealth of experience with 66 international matches under his belt as captain, steps up to lead UAE’s charge. His teammates include familiar faces from the 2022 edition: Alishan Sharafu and Zunaid Siddiqui, both eager to make amends for past group-stage exits.
The support staff boasts international pedigree. Former Indian cricketer Lalchand Rajput helms as head coach, with ex-Pakistan pacer Yasir Arafat joining as fast bowling coach. Arafat, who represented Pakistan in 72 internationals, has coached multiple national sides and franchises. He’ll guide UAE through their Ireland series and into the World Cup. Zimbabwe’s Stanley Chiyoja rounds out the coaching trio as fielding coach.
UAE earned their spot last year by defeating Japan in the Super Sixes of the Asia and East Asia-Pacific qualifier in Oman. This marks their third T20 World Cup appearance, following underwhelming campaigns in 2014 and 2022.
Drawn in Group D, UAE faces a tough slate: New Zealand on February 10, Canada on February 13 at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, Afghanistan on February 16, and South Africa on February 18. Pre-tournament, they’re playing a T20 series against Ireland, followed by warm-ups against Nepal and Italy on February 3 and 6 at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
The full squad features a blend of youth and experience: Mohammad Wasim (c), Alishan Sharafu, Aryan Sharma (wk), Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Zunaid Siddiqui, Mayank Kumar, Mohammad Arfan, Mohammad Farooq, Mohammad Jawadullah, Mohammad Zohaib, Rohid Khan, Sohail Khan, and Simranjit Singh.
With seasoned coaching and a determined captain, UAE aims to finally break through in the global showpiece, captivating fans with their brand of aggressive cricket.