UAE beat Scotland to earn Lalchand Rajput first win as coach

Junaid Siddique and Muhammad Waseem combined to deliver a first victory for Lalchand Rajput as UAE coach as the national team returned to winning ways against Scotland.

Rajput had suffered a tricky start to his spell in charge with three one-day international losses in the Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series involving Scotland and Canada last week.

The national team immediately looked a far more confident outfit upon switching to T20 cricket, though.

Siddique took a wicket off the second ball of the match, and proceeded to take 4-14 as the tourists were restricted to 147-8 in their 20 overs.

Only one player has managed five wickets in a T20I for the UAE so far. Ahmed Raza did so in helping guide the UAE to the T20 World Cup in Australia, as they beat Nepal in Muscat in 2022.

Siddique had a whole over in which to try to get a fifth, but could not quite match the feat of the side’s current assistant coach.

“We played ODI games against them so I knew what kind of wicket we have and I was just trying to do simple things,” Siddique said.

“We have a new combination in ODIs, but we know T20Is well. Hopefully we can do better in the future.

First T20I: Wowsome Waseem!
The UAE captain leading from the front once again - SMASHING them long at the Dubai International Stadium