The United Arab Emirates (UAE) have officially announced their 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, and all eyes are on star opener Muhammad Wasim, who has been appointed as captain. The 31-year-old explosive batsman, famous for smashing a half-century in just 12 balls during a T10 tournament, will now lead his team in one of Asia’s biggest cricket competitions.
UAE placed in Group A with India and Pakistan
The Asia Cup 2025 will feature some thrilling battles, and the UAE squad is set for a tough test. Drawn in Group A, UAE will face cricketing giants India and Pakistan, along with Oman. Their opening fixture is scheduled against India on 10 September at the Dubai International Stadium, a contest that is expected to draw massive attention from fans across the region.
The UAE squad for the Asia Cup includes:
Muhammad Wasim (captain), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma, Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Itha D'Souza, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddiqui, Matiullah Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zoheb, Rahul Chopra, Rohid Khan, Simranjit Singh and Sagir Khan.
Muhammad Wasim: From Pakistan to UAE’s biggest cricket star
Wasim’s journey is nothing short of inspirational. Born in Balochistan, Pakistan, he moved to the UAE in 2017 in search of work and initially took up a job as a salesman. Alongside his job, he started playing club cricket, where his fearless stroke play quickly caught attention. Within a few years, he rose through the ranks to become one of UAE’s most dependable and destructive batsmen.
Now a household name in Gulf cricket, Wasim has built a reputation as a power-hitter. He currently holds the record for hitting the most sixes in T20 cricket within the Gulf circuit, even surpassing Indian skipper Rohit Sharma’s tally at one point.
Stellar stats and record-breaking innings
In international cricket, Muhammad Wasim’s numbers speak for themselves. He has played 80 T20 matches for the UAE, scoring 2,859 runs at an impressive average of 38+. He has three T20I centuries to his name, with a blistering strike rate of over 150.
One of the highlights of his career came in a T10 league match where he raced to a half-century in just 12 balls, one of the fastest in the format’s history. Wasim credits his ability to dominate bowlers to his early years of tape-ball cricket in Pakistan’s streets, which taught him the art of timing and six-hitting.
Recent form ahead of Asia Cup 2025
Ahead of the Asia Cup, Wasim has shown superb form. In the recent tri-series, he hammered a quick 33 runs against Pakistan and followed it up with a match-winning 67 against Afghanistan. His aggressive batting style has made him a player to watch, and now with the captaincy, he will have the dual responsibility of leading from the front.
What this means for UAE cricket
For UAE cricket, Wasim’s captaincy is a bold step. The selectors have placed faith in a player who represents the new face of Gulf cricket—resilient, aggressive, and fearless. With the Asia Cup being staged on home soil, UAE will look to punch above their weight and cause a few upsets in the tournament.
Cricket experts believe that with Wasim’s leadership and form, UAE have the potential to surprise both India and Pakistan in Group A. His personal story of leaving Pakistan, working as a salesman, and eventually becoming UAE captain is already inspiring many young cricketers across the region.
