Captain Muhammed Waseem proud after UAE qualify for cricket’s T20 World Cup
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UAE's captain Muhammad Waseem takes a catch to dismiss Pakistan's Mohammad Nawaz in the Asia Cup T20 cricket match at the Dubai International Stadium on Sept 17, 2025.
PHOTO: AFP
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United Arab Emirates captain Muhammed Waseem expects his team to make their mark at cricket’s Twenty20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka on 2026 after they claimed the last qualifying spot for the showpiece tournament.
Their eight-wicket victory against Japan in Al Amarat on Oct 16 guaranteed UAE a top-three finish at the Asia/East Asia-Pacific qualifier. They join Nepal and Oman as the last three teams to secure spots at the event.
“It’s very proud moment for us as a team, and I’m very happy with the performance of the team,” Waseem said in a video posted by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
“We played like a champion team here. I have belief in my team that they will do better in the upcoming games and in the World Cup.
“I’m pretty sure we’ll produce some excellent performance in the World Cup.”
The win put an end to the qualifying hopes of Japan, Samoa and Qatar.
Former champions England and Australia have qualified automatically alongside five other teams who finished in the top seven at the 2024 World Cup.
With the United States also booking their ticket courtesy of a top-seven finish at the 2024 edition, which they co-hosted with the West Indies, Canada grabbed the lone Americas qualifying spot for the 20-team tournament.
Italy and the Netherlands qualified from Europe, while Namibia and Zimbabwe secured the two spots from the eight-team Africa qualifier.
The ICC is yet to announce the schedule but the tournament is likely to be held in February-March, with India the defending champions. REUTERS
