Asia Cup 2025 is coming up in no time, and while everyone is talking about India and Pakistan, there’s a slightly underrated but interesting narrative developing: The United Arab Emirates. That’s right, the UAE—usually one of the quietest countries to come out of the desert when it comes to cricket—is back for its second Asia Cup, and its Group A assignments look like an uphill climb against defending champions India, strongmen Pakistan, and a continuously improving Oman. Can the underdogs spring a surprise and outmatch their opponents? Let’s take a look.
Finding Their Footing: How the UAE Got Here
First of all — how the heck did they get this bad? UAE won the ACC Men’s Premier Cup 2024 in Oman, fiction second in their group, beat Nepal in the semi-finals, then had to beat Oman – they beat them in the group!! So, the win was not a fluke. They clearly can learn, and they remain relaxed under pressure. But the real question was consistency! Since the ACC triumph, the UAE has been like a team on a seesaw—soaring high one game, crashing down the next. First, they won six out of nine games since May 2025, including a comeback win against Bangladesh. Yet they clearly fell short of two other recent tournaments, particularly Uganda, as they only won three out of five games, but still did not progress.
The Key Players Who Could Make a Difference
Teams like the UAE rely on individuals, rather than their depth of talent. Muhammad Waseem is your captain and opening batter, generally able to strike some quick runs at the top of an innings, and had a strike rate of 155 in the year previously, and is a game-changer enough to hurt even Indian seamers with the new ball. Asif Khan swings like he’s allergic to singles—boundaries are his natural language. On the bowling side, the most hope comes from Haider Ali, the left-arm spinner. Leading the charts in Uganda and troubling Pakistan later, he’s shaping into the UAE’s go-to spin weapon.
Group A: A Steep Hill or a Playground for Surprises?
Group A is no joke. Starting with India in Dubai, the UAE faces a side that has a reputation for crushing underdogs early. But cricket is as much mental as physical. If the UAE can soak up the heat and swing with freedom, their clash with India could scream intent more than chase victory.
Oman in Abu Dhabi follows, where the UAE’s familiarity with local conditions might work in their favor. Next up is Pakistan in Dubai, just two days after Afghanistan — a tall order, but the shorter timeframes could work to the advantage of a team that is used to erratic tournament timelines.
Although I will stretch the bounds of credulity and say that asking the UAE to beat either India or Pakistan might be a bit optimistic, cricket has thrown up more surprises in its high, long history than any other sport; there are also the timelines of Group A to consider, and with their squad, the UAE have some opportunities to turn individual brilliance into match-winning performances, especially on home turf.
FAQs
- Who are the UAE’s key finishers?
Asif Khan is their main boundary-hitting finisher in the slog overs.
- How did the UAE perform in their previous Asia Cup?
They played only in 2016, losing all four games in the main stage.
- What recent series showcased the UAE’s potential?
A comeback series win against Bangladesh earlier in 2025.
