By Himadullah Sohoo 
The United Arab Emirates finally got their campaign underway with a commanding 42-run victory over Oman in their Group A clash at the Asia Cup 2025. A composed half-century from Alishan Sharafu and a milestone knock from captain Muhammad Waseem powered UAE to 172 for 5, before their bowlers dismantled Oman for just 130.
Sharafu Sets the Tone
On a sluggish Abu Dhabi surface, Alishan Sharafu found a way to score freely. Charging down the track, he pierced the gaps with precision, hitting seven fours and a six in his 38-ball 51. His proactive approach ensured UAE recovered from a slow start of 11 for 0 in three overs to build early momentum. His inside-out drive over cover against legspinner Samay Shrivastava was the pick of his shots.
Waseem Reaches 3000 T20I Runs
While not at his most fluent, Muhammad Waseem’s 69 off 54 proved crucial. In the process, he became the fourth-fastest batter to 3000 T20I runs, joining an elite list featuring Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan. He was dropped twice, but made Oman pay with timely boundaries, including three fours in one over off Aamir Kaleem.
Late cameos from Muhammad Zohaib (21 off 13) and Harshit Kaushik (19 off 8)* pushed UAE to a competitive 172 for 5.
Oman’s Collapse
Oman’s chase began brightly with captain Jatinder Singh hammering 20 off 10 balls, but once he chopped on against Junaid Siddique, their innings unraveled. Four of the top five fell for single digits as UAE’s bowlers tightened the screws.
Siddique was the star with the ball, claiming 4 for 23, while Haider Ali and Muhammad Jawadullah chipped in with two wickets each. Despite a fighting 24 from Aryan Bisht and 20 from Vinayak Shukla, Oman never recovered, eventually bowled out for 130 in 18.4 overs.
Brief Scores
UAE 172/5 (20 overs): Alishan Sharafu 51 (38), Muhammad Waseem 69 (54), Zohaib 21 (13); Jiten Ramanandi 2/24, Shrivastava 1/38
Oman 130 all out (18.4 overs): Jatinder Singh 20 (10), Aryan Bisht 24 (32), Vinayak Shukla 20 (17); Junaid Siddique 4/23, Haider Ali 2/22, Jawadullah 2/18
Result: UAE won by 42 runs
Player of the Match: Alishan Sharafu (51 off 38)
Zainab Shafiq