Questions remain after UAE T20 World Cup exit despite win over Namibia

SYDNEY: The UAE finished their 2022 T20 World Cup with a morale boosting, nail-biting and historic seven-run win against Namibia. A result that cost their opponents qualification to the next stage of the competition. 

The UAE’s victory owed much to a man-of-the-match all-round performance from Muhammad Waseem. The right-handed opener scored 50 off 41 balls with the bat, before he closed out the match by defending 14 off the final over. What’s more, it was just the fourth time he had bowled in a T20I for the UAE in 20 matches, and the first time in over a year. 

“We have always believed in his ability,” captain CP Rizwan said of Waseem after the game. “We have played together in domestic cricket in UAE, and I have seen him nailing yorkers like anything, so I have always had trust in him.

“What better moment could you have to nail your yorker, and get the big wicket of David Wiese. I am really happy for him and the team.”

This was just the second victory the UAE have ever recorded at a World Cup and comes a whole 26 years after their first which came against the Netherlands in 1996. In the three World Cups that the UAE have participated in since, they have suffered 11 consecutive losses, with captain CP Rizwan commenting that the plane-ride home will be a much happier journey now the side finally have a win under their belt. 

“It has been a really good journey,” Rizwan, the captain, said. “There have been a lot of good moments. There are lessons to be learnt. With this first win, we can take this forward and try to make an impact in world cricket further also.”

Hindsight will show that it was the batting that ultimately prevented the UAE campaign from progressing any further than the first round. Poor showings