United Arab Emirates National Cricket Team

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) men's national cricket team represents the country in international cricket and operates under the governance of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB). The ECB became an Affiliate Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1989 and achieved Associate Member status in 1990. With the ICC's global headquarters based in Dubai since 2005, the UAE has steadily developed into one of the more promising Associate cricket nations. The team has made notable progress over the years, securing a strong regional presence by winning the ACC Trophy four times consecutively between 2000 and 2006 and finishing as runners-up in 1996, 1998, and 2008. Their breakthrough on the global stage came with victory in the 1994 ICC Trophy, which earned them their first One Day Internationals (ODIs) and a spot in the 1996 Cricket World Cup.
The UAE has since continued to compete in major international tournaments, participating in the 2004 and 2008 Asia Cups, as well as the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Their performance in the 2014 World Cup Qualifier was particularly significant, as they finished second behind Scotland, securing a place in the 2015 Cricket World Cup and ODI status until 2018. More recently, the UAE hosted and competed in the 2019 ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier and took part in the 2019–22 ICC Cricket World Cup League 2, following the discontinuation of the World Cricket League (WCL). These consistent appearances highlight the UAE's growing stature in the cricketing world and its ambitions to become a regular feature in global competitions.

United Arab Emirates Cricket Team History

Cricket was first introduced to the region now known as the United Arab Emirates in 1892 by the British Army, during the time of the Trucial States. The sport gained further traction during World War II, with British Royal Air Force personnel and other Commonwealth servicemen, including first-class cricketers from Australia and New Zealand, playing matches in cities such as Ajman, Al Ain, Dubai, and Sharjah. Following the war, cricket pitches built around airbases, particularly in Sharjah, continued to be used by British expatriates and other foreign nationals. Local derbies between residents of Dubai and Sharjah began to take place, and Al Ain emerged as an early hub for organized cricket, boasting the oldest cricket council in the country.
After the UAE gained independence in 1971, interest in cricket initially declined. However, a revival began when South Asian migrants, passionate about the sport, started settling in the region. Many local Arabs, educated in cricket-loving nations like India and Pakistan, also played a pivotal role by forming clubs and initiating domestic tournaments in the 1980s. The UAE national team played its first unofficial match in February 1976 against Pakistan International Airlines in Sharjah, marking the beginning of representative cricket for the nation. Although the game was abandoned due to rain, it signified the growing ambition and interest in establishing a cricketing identity for the UAE.
Significant investment from affluent local businessmen led to the construction of the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, a venue that soon gained international recognition. In 1984, Sharjah hosted the inaugural Asia Cup featuring India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, cementing its place in cricketing history. Over time, the stadium became one of the most frequently used ODI venues in the world, having hosted nearly 200 One Day Internationals, along with four Test matches, some of which were played there due to safety concerns in Pakistan following the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team. In 1989, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) was formally established and became an Affiliate Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Just a year later, it earned Associate Member status, laying the foundation for the UAE’s future in international cricket.

United Arab Emirates Cricket Team Current Captain and Coaches

The ODI side is captained by Rahul Chopra while the T20I squad is headed by Muhammad Waseem. Guiding the team is Lalchand Rajput, the head coach, who also was the head coach of the Indian T20 World Cup winning squad in 2007. Supporting him is Mohammad Naveed, who serves as the assistant coach. The team’s tactical and performance analysis is handled by Mohammad Tauqir, who serves as the team analyst.
The physical fitness and injury management of the players are overseen by Amjad Javed, the strength and conditioning coach, along with two physiotherapists, Sultan Ahmed and Amir Hayat who are responsible for players' rehabilitation and maintaining their physical readiness. 

United Arab Emirates Cricket Team Captains List

Sultan Zarawani was the first prominent captain, leading the team between 1994 and 1996, including during their debut World Cup appearance in 1996. Khurram Khan had the longest tenure as captain, serving from 2004 to 2015, and is regarded as one of UAE's most accomplished players. Saqib Ali briefly captained the team in 2008, followed by Ahmed Raza, who led the side across multiple years from 2014 to 2022, playing a crucial role in stabilizing the team during its transition phases.
Several other players held the captaincy for shorter durations: Mohammad Tauqir in 2015, Amjad Javed in 2016, Rohan Mustafa from 2017 to 2018, and Rameez Shahzad and Mohammad Naveed, both in 2019. Chundangapoyil Rizwan led the team in 2022 and early 2023, before a brief captaincy stint by Vriitya Aravind in 2023.
Currently, the UAE has opted for a split captaincy model: Muhammad Waseem is the captain of the T20I side since 2023, known for his aggressive batting and leadership in the shortest format. Meanwhile, Rahul Chopra is the current ODI captain, also appointed in 2023.

United Arab Emirates Cricket Team Trophies and Milestones

• ACC Trophy: Four-time winners (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006).
• ICC Trophy: Winners in 1994.