Muhammad Waseem is not just the captain of the UAE cricket team; he is the heartbeat of their batting lineup, the face of their ambitions, and the symbol of a new era for UAE cricket. As the 2025 T20 Asia Cup draws near, Waseem has set his sights not only on competing but also on making history: he genuinely believes that his team can shock one of the cricketing giants—India or Pakistan.
For a side still carving out its identity among associate nations, this isn’t empty talk. It’s the conviction of a leader who has transformed the UAE from underdogs into a team capable of unsettling the established order.
Muhammad Waseem: The Central Pillar of UAE Cricket
Few teams in world cricket depend so heavily on one player as the UAE do on Muhammad Waseem. Since making his debut in 2021, his numbers have been staggering:
| Stat | Muhammad Waseem | Next Best UAE Batter |
|---|---|---|
| T20I Runs | Nearly 3x more | — |
| Strike Rate | ~20 points higher | — |
| T20I Hundreds | 3 of UAE’s 4 | — |
This dominance underscores his role as both opener and finisher. UAE’s fortunes often rise or fall depending on his form. He has built a reputation for explosive powerplay hitting, often setting the tone by attacking bowlers aggressively, while his partners play more conservatively to anchor the innings.
Waseem has shown that when he bats deep into an innings, UAE are capable of putting up totals of 170+, enough to challenge top-tier sides even in high-pressure tournaments.
From Central Punjab to UAE’s Cricketing Leader
Born in Central Punjab, Pakistan, Muhammad Waseem didn’t get many opportunities in his homeland’s cricketing system. His journey took a turn when he moved to the UAE in 2016–17, initially to play club cricket during Ramadan. What began casually soon turned serious as he climbed into the Emirates’ semi-professional setup, then the domestic circuit, before breaking into the national side in 2021.
His rise was swift: he scored a century in his debut T20I series and quickly became UAE’s most reliable batter. His domestic leadership experience, where he captained sides to multiple tournament wins, made him the natural choice for UAE’s captaincy during a transitional phase when senior players were lacking.
The Asia Cup 2025: Targeting a Giant-Killing
For Muhammad Waseem, success at the Asia Cup isn’t defined by participation—it’s about impact. His target is clear:
“We can absolutely inflict an upset on one of India or Pakistan. We could beat Oman and then eye a run to the Super Four.”
This confidence is rooted in the unpredictability of T20 cricket. Just one inspired innings or a match-winning bowling spell can turn the tide. UAE, with their mix of power-hitters and a few experienced bowlers, are capable of catching a bigger team off guard.
The Afghanistan Blueprint: UAE’s Full Member Ambition
One of Waseem’s long-term goals is to elevate UAE to ICC Full Member status. He points to Afghanistan’s remarkable rise as the template:
- Afghanistan gained Full Member recognition in 2017.
- They built momentum through consistent wins against stronger sides.
- They developed a core of world-class players through exposure in global T20 leagues.
UAE are attempting the same path. With the ILT20 league now attracting big-name international stars, UAE’s cricketers are gaining invaluable experience in high-pressure environments that mimic international intensity.
ILT20: Game-Changer for UAE Cricket
The ILT20 has become the UAE’s best cricketing classroom. Players like Muhammad Waseem not only compete with but also learn from global T20 icons.
Key benefits of ILT20 for UAE cricket include:
- Exposure to elite competition and strategies.
- Development of mental toughness in high-stakes matches.
- Sharpening of batting against world-class bowlers and bowling against destructive batters.
Waseem himself has thrived, smashing boundaries in the tournament and carrying that confidence back into international cricket.
Strengths and Weaknesses of UAE’s Game Plan
Waseem describes UAE’s batting structure as layered power-hitting:
- Top Order (Waseem): Aggressive in the powerplay.
- Middle Order (Alishan Sharafu): Counter-attacking stabilizer.
- Lower Middle Order (Asif Khan): Finisher who can clear the ropes late.
This ensures that UAE almost always has at least one aggressor at the crease. However, the team’s Achilles’ heel remains consistency and finishing games.
Against Afghanistan in recent matches, UAE positioned themselves well but faltered due to inexperience and lapses in judgment. The captain is honest about this shortcoming: “If we had more experience, we could have won both games.”
UAE’s Key Players Beyond Muhammad Waseem
While Muhammad Waseem is the standout star, several others are crucial for UAE’s Asia Cup campaign:
- Alishan Sharafu: Middle-order big hitter with the ability to shift momentum.
- Asif Khan: Lower-order bludgeoner, adds late-innings firepower.
- Haider Ali: Strike bowler, experienced from Pakistan’s first-class circuit.
- Dhruv Parashar: Reliable seam option in UAE conditions.
The loss of spinner Zuhaib Zubair to injury is a blow, placing extra responsibility on Haider Ali to deliver breakthroughs.
Playing Conditions: Home Advantage and Challenges
Waseem knows UAE conditions better than anyone. His breakdown of venues is revealing:
- Dubai: Spinners get help in middle overs; under lights the ball comes onto the bat beautifully.
- Abu Dhabi: Favors pacers slightly more; swing early in day games under natural light.
- Sharjah: Spin-friendly pitches with low bounce, requiring adaptability.
An additional challenge is dew and humidity during night matches, which makes defending totals tricky. Waseem’s strategy? Opt to chase rather than set targets in UAE conditions.
The Support Question: Building a UAE Fan Base
UAE cricket faces a unique cultural challenge. Most expats in the crowd support visiting teams like India, Pakistan, or Afghanistan. But according to Waseem, the tide is slowly turning:
- Five years ago: Matches attracted only friends and family.
- Now: Neutral fans and UAE-based supporters are showing up.
Waseem is urging local fans to rally behind UAE during the Asia Cup. Greater visibility and success could accelerate this shift, giving UAE the home advantage they often lack.
Why Muhammad Waseem is Confident About an Upset
The optimism isn’t misplaced bravado. Muhammad Waseem’s confidence rests on three pillars:
- T20’s Nature: The shortest format is inherently unpredictable. Even weaker sides can stun powerhouses on a given day.
- UAE’s Growth Curve: With ILT20 exposure and recent series wins (such as against Bangladesh), UAE has proven they can compete.
- Self-belief: Waseem himself embodies fearless cricket. If he fires, UAE instantly become a much more dangerous opponent.
Roadblocks on UAE’s Journey to Cricket Relevance
Despite progress, challenges remain:
- Inconsistency: UAE still struggles to finish games from winning positions.
- Limited Experience: Players lack exposure against Test nations outside ILT20.
- Fan Support: Without strong home backing, momentum is harder to build.
Addressing these issues will determine how far UAE can climb in world cricket.
Muhammad Waseem: The Torchbearer of UAE’s Cricketing Future
At 31, Muhammad Waseem is in his prime. He envisions himself leading the team for at least the next five to seven years. By then, he hopes to leave a legacy not just of personal milestones but of taking UAE cricket closer to Full Member recognition.
His belief in upsetting giants like India or Pakistan isn’t fantasy—it’s the kind of underdog spirit that fuels global sport. If UAE do pull off such a result at the Asia Cup 2025, it could mark a watershed moment for the country’s cricketing identity.
Muhammad Waseem is more than UAE’s captain—he is the bridge between their cricketing present and future. His dominance with the bat, bold ambitions for Full Member status, and belief in upsetting heavyweights make him one of the most fascinating leaders in associate cricket today.
The Asia Cup 2025 isn’t just another tournament for the UAE. It’s a chance to validate years of hard work, prove they belong on the big stage, and maybe—just maybe—shake up the cricketing world with a historic upset.
