UAE and Oman look to end losing streaks in Abu Dhabi showdown
Both UAE and Oman know this is their best chance at getting points on board in the Asia Cup
Andrew Fidel Fernando
14-Sep-2025 • 4 hrs ago
Big picture: Contest of evenly matched teams
Up until the end of 2022, these teams had played four T20Is against each other. Ever. In the last three years, though, these teams have played five times, and been fairly evenly matched - UAE winning three times, Oman twice. They had met in the final of the ACC Men's Premier Cup, which is the feeder tournament for the Asia Cup. On that occasion, a 56-ball 100* from UAE captain Muhammad Waseem had put UAE's total well out of Oman's reach. But earlier in the tournament, Oman had handed out a crushing defeat to UAE.
They arrive at this encounter licking wounds. UAE arguably had the more traumatic opening encounter, having been shot out for 57 by India before the target was chased down in 4.3 overs. Oman's brush with Pakistan saw them 67 all out chasing 161. There is the distant possibility that either - or both - of these teams can cause upsets in their last group match. But more than likely, this match is their best chance of getting some points up on the table, on the biggest stage either team will play on this year.
In fact, for both teams, it is an opportunity to break losing streaks. UAE have been much more active in T20I cricket this year, but have now lost six matches on the jump - that sequence having been kickstarted by Uganda, who beat them in late July. Oman also have a six-match losing streak going all the way back to December last year. In that time, they have lost to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and USA (three times). Both teams will by now be desperate for a T20I win, but it's been a much longer wait for Oman.
Form guide
UAE LLLLL (Last five completed T20Is, most recent result first)
Oman LLLLL
Oman LLLLL
In the spotlight: Jatinder Singh and Haider Ali
Oman captain and opening batter Jatinder Singh was undone by an excellent carrom ball against Pakistan, but of all Oman's batters, he's the only one with some semblance of recent form going in to this match. In February, he had hit two fifties against USA at home, his 136 runs in that series coming at a strike rate of 147.82.
Almost equally unable to impose himself on UAE's opening game was left-arm spinner Haider Ali, who bowled the first over in a no-hope defence against India, and conceded ten runs. Nevertheless, he has been far and away UAE's best bowler this year, taking 22 wickets in 14 matches with an economy rate of 5.54. Having made his debut only this year, Haider has never played Oman.
Pitch and conditions
The Abu Dhabi pitch tends to be batting-friendly, though occasionally it will have something for the slower bowlers as well. Rain is not forecast.
Team news
Despite the big loss, Oman will likely field the same XI.
Oman (possible): 1 Aamir Kaleem, 2 Jatinder Singh (capt), 3 Hammad Mirza, 4 Mohammad Nadeem, 5 Sufyan Mehmood, 6 Vinayak Shukla (wk), 7 Zikria Islam, 8 Shah Faisal, 9 Shakeel Ahmed, 10 Hassnain Shah, 11 Samay Shrivastava
In the pre-match press conference, UAE didn't hint at any changes.
UAE (possible): 1 Alishan Sharafu, 2 Muhammad Waseem (capt), 3 Muhammad Zohaib, 4 Rahul Chopra (wk), 5 Asif Khan, 6 Harshit Kaushik, 7 Dhruv Parashar, 8 Simranjeet Singh, 9 Haider Ali, 10 Junaid Siddique, 11 Muhammad Rohid
Stats and trivia
- Haider Ali's record in the UAE is not quite as good as his overall record. On home decks, he has nine wickets from eight matches, with an economy rate of 6.13.
- In matches between these teams played in the UAE, the hosts have won twice, including the most recent encounter, in December last year.
- In five T20I against UAE so far, Jatinder Singh has a high score of 26, and a strike rate of 96.29.
Quotes
"Our calibre is much better than what we showed in the first game, and we will show that tomorrow."
UAE captain Muhammad Waseem
UAE captain Muhammad Waseem
Andrew Fidel Fernando is a senior writer at ESPNcricinfo. @afidelf