UAE Announce 17-Member Squad for Asia Cup 2025: Matiullah Khan Returns
1. Muhammad Waseem to Lead uae in Asia Cup 2025The uae squad will be captained by Muhammad Waseem, who brings experience and leadership to a team eager to impress on home soil. Waseem’s leadership will be crucial as the uae data-faces some of Asia’s most formidable cricketing nations, including India and Pakistan.
2. Notable Returns: Matiullah Khan and Simranjeet SinghAmong the 17 players, two key inclusions are making a return to the national setup:
- Matiullah Khan (32) – a right-arm pacer who has previously played 1 ODI and 5 T20Is. His recall adds depth to the uae bowling attack.
- Simranjeet Singh (35) – a left-arm spinner who has featured in 11 T20Is and 5 ODIs, last appearing in the gulf T20I championship in December 2024. His experience will be valuable in the spin-friendly uae conditions.
3. UAE’s Asia Cup Return After Nine YearsThis marks UAE’s first appearance in the Asia Cup since 2016. The gap has given the team time to rebuild and strengthen, focusing on players capable of competing at the continental level. With the tournament being held at home, uae hopes to leverage familiar conditions to challenge cricketing heavyweights.
4. uae Group A FixturesThe uae team has been placed in Group A alongside:
- India (defending champions)
- Pakistan
- Oman
- September 10: uae vs India
- September 15: uae vs Oman
- September 17: uae vs Pakistan
5. Full uae Squad for Men’s Asia Cup 2025The 17-member squad announced by ECB is as follows:Muhammad Waseem (C)Rahul ChopraRohid KhanMuhammad FarooqMuhammad ZohaibMatiullah KhanJunaid SiddiqueHarshit KaushikHaider AliSimranjeet SinghEthan DsouzaDhruv ParasharMuhammad JawadullahAsif KhanAryansh SharmaAlishan SharafuSaghir KhanThis squad combines youthful talent with experienced campaigners, offering a mix of pace, spin, and batting depth.
6. Key Players to Watch
- Muhammad Waseem (C) – Captain and top-order batsman, pivotal for UAE’s stability.
- Matiullah Khan – Expected to spearhead the pace attack.
- Simranjeet Singh – Spin specialist, likely to exploit turning conditions.
- Rahul Chopra & Rohid Khan – Promising youngsters who can provide crucial contributions with bat and ball.
7. UAE’s Chances and ExpectationsWhile Group A is challenging, uae aims to upset the bigger teams by leveraging home advantage. Analysts believe:
- Strong performances in the first game against india could boost team morale.
- Consistency from senior players like Simranjeet Singh and Muhammad Waseem will be key.
- Young players could emerge as breakout stars, particularly in middle overs and death overs.
8. Final Word: UAE’s Continental ChallengeAfter a nine-year hiatus, uae returns to the Asia Cup with a balanced squad ready to data-face the continent’s best in t20 cricket. With experience, youth, and home advantage, the team will be looking to make a strong statement in the 2025 Asia Cup and inspire a new era of uae cricket.
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