UAE ready to play role of giantkillers at Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier

Esha Oza, the UAE captain, says her side are ready to cause more upsets at the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in Abu Dhabi.

UAE fixtures

25 April – Ireland v UAE*
27 April – UAE v Zimbabwe**
29 April – Netherlands v UAE*
3 May – UAE v Vanuatu*
5 May – Semi-finals
7 May – Final
UAE squad: Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Avanee Patel, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kavisha Kumari, Khushi Sharma, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish, Vaishnave Mahesh.

*Zayed Cricket Stadium

**Tolerance Oval

The 10-team competition will decide the final two teams for the main event, which will take place in Bangladesh in September and October.

The national team have yet to play at a World Cup at senior level. When they debuted at a global qualifier, which was also played in the capital back in 2022, they finished seventh.

That tournament was notable, though, for one significant scalp. The home team picked up a thrilling last-ball victory against Zimbabwe.

According to Oza, that win gave the national team the belief they can compete with leading sides, and that attitude has only been bolstered in the time since.

In the course of the past year, the UAE have twice beaten Thailand to continental titles. The Thais have been trailblazers in the women’s game for much of the past decade, particularly among non-Test nations.

“I think we definitely can,” Oza said when asked if her side can claim more notable victims at the Qualifier.

“This time we are coming off two wins against Thailand, and we had never done that before.

“Doing that twice in the space of six months shows we are taking steps ahead. Last time we beat Zimbabwe, and it means we can aim higher this