UAE Announce Squad for Tri-Series Against Pakistan and Afghanistan

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) have officially announced their squad for the upcoming triangular T20 International series, which will be played against Pakistan and Afghanistan at home. The responsibility of leading the team has once again been given to captain Muhammad Waseem, who will guide his side in what many are calling a high-profile warm-up before the Asia Cup 2025.

This triangular series is scheduled to take place in Sharjah from August 29 to September 7. It will be a valuable test for the UAE, as they face two of Asia’s strongest cricket teams. The tournament will begin with Pakistan taking on Afghanistan on August 29, while the UAE will start their campaign the very next day when they go head-to-head against Pakistan. For the hosts, this series is more than just preparation—it is also a chance to prove themselves against world-class opposition on their home ground.

The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) has selected a 15-member squad for this tournament. Four players have been recalled or newly included: Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, and Muhammad Jawadullah. On the other hand, some names from the last series—Akif Raja, Matiullah Khan, and Zuhaib Zubair—have not been retained this time. The selectors appear to be trying different combinations as they look for the best balance ahead of the Asia Cup.

Interestingly, just two days after the final of this tri-series, the Asia Cup will begin in the UAE. In that major tournament, the hosts are placed in a tough group alongside India, Pakistan, and Oman. The final squad for the Asia Cup will be announced later, depending on the players’ performance in this tri-series. This makes the Sharjah event even more important, as every player will be eager to make his mark and secure a spot in the Asia Cup lineup.

UAE Squad for the Tri-Series

• Muhammad Waseem (c)
• Alishan Sharafu
• Aryansh Sharma (wk)
• Asif Khan
• Dhruv Parashar
• Ethan D’Souza
• Haider Ali
• Harshit Kaushik
• Junaid Siddique
• Muhammad Farooq
• Muhammad Jawadullah
• Muhammad Zohaib
• Rahul Chopra (wk)
• Rohid Khan
• Saghir Khan

For cricket fans in Pakistan, this tri-series will serve as an exciting preview before the Asia Cup. It will allow them to see how the Men in Green perform not only against Afghanistan, a side that has become one of their fiercest rivals in T20 cricket, but also against a determined UAE team that wants to show the world they can compete at this level.

With the Asia Cup just around the corner, the upcoming matches in Sharjah promise thrilling cricket and plenty of talking points for fans across the region.

READ MORE: Hasan Nawaz Confident as Pakistan Prepares for T20I Tri-Series and Asia Cup 2025