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UAE Captain Unites Team: "No India-Pakistan, We Play for UAE" Before NZ Clash

UAE captain Muhammad Waseem has stressed his team's unity ahead of their T20 World Cup match against New Zealand, explicitly stating there is no India-Pakistan division within the squad as all players represent the UAE as a family. The team draws confidence from a previous T20I victory over New Zealand in 2023 but acknowledges the need for a new strategy given the different tournament and conditions. Waseem's comments come as the Emirates Cricket Board sent batter Muhammad Zohaib home for disciplinary reasons on the eve of the crucial fixture. The UAE will face New Zealand on Tuesday following two warm-up losses to Nepal and Italy.

Key Points: UAE Captain on Team Unity Ahead of T20 World Cup vs New Zealand

  • UAE unity over player origins
  • Confidence from past win over NZ
  • Different plans for new venue
  • Squad change for disciplinary reasons
2 min read

"There is no India-Pakistan, we are playing for UAE": Muhammad Waseem emphasizes team unity ahead of New Zealand clash

UAE captain Muhammad Waseem emphasizes squad unity, downplays India-Pakistan origins, and discusses strategy for the ICC T20 World Cup clash against New Zealand.

"There is no India-Pakistan. We are playing for the UAE - Muhammad Waseem"

Chennai, February 9

UAE captain Muhammad Waseem, ahead of this side's ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 clash against New Zealand, highlighted his team's unity and preparation, emphasising their diverse squad, which includes players of Indian and Pakistani origin.

Waseem said the team would draw confidence from their previous T20I win over New Zealand in Dubai (2023), showcasing their potential. Waseem also said there is no India-Pakistan rivalry in their team, as they are playing for the UAE and always treat them like family.

UAE will lock horns with New Zealand on Tuesday. UAE lost both their warm-up games heading into the tournament against Nepal and Italy.

"Our strategy is very simple. We beat them before in the UAE, but this time it's a different venue, a different tournament, a different ground, and a different game also. So we cameup with another plan right now. So yes, they are a good team and have experience also. But we work very well, and we have prepared ourselves like a champion team. We will try to play good cricket against them tomorrow," Waseem told the reporters.

"There is no India-Pakistan. We are playing for the UAE and we are always treating ourselves like a family. We are living like a family, friends. We are spending time together, eating together. There is no Indian-Pakistani in the UAE team to be honest," he added.

Meanwhile, a day before the UAE's T20 World Cup fixture against New Zealand, the Emirates Cricket Board have sent batter Muhammad Zohaib back home for "disciplinary reasons".

United Arab Emirates Squad: Aryansh Sharma(w), Muhammad Waseem(c), Alishan Sharafu, Harshit Kaushik, Mayank Kumar, Dhruv Parashar, Muhammad Arfan, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh, Sohaib Khan, Muhammad Farooq.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Respect to Captain Waseem for this mature statement. It's a good example for everyone. The team looks strong on paper, hope they can pull off an upset!
R
Rohit P
Interesting to see so many Indian-origin players like Aryansh Sharma in the squad. But the captain is right, they are playing for the UAE flag now. That's what matters in international cricket.
S
Sarah B
Sending a player home for disciplinary reasons right before a big match is tough. Hope it doesn't affect team morale. Unity is key, especially against a team like New Zealand.
V
Vikram M
While the sentiment is noble, it's a bit of an oversimplification. The India-Pakistan dynamic is deeply rooted and can't be wished away just by saying "there is no India-Pakistan". However, focusing on a common national goal is definitely the right approach for a team sport.
K
Karthik V
Their win over NZ in 2023 was a shocker! If they can repeat that, it will be amazing for Associate cricket. The UAE team has come a long way. All the best boys! 🤞

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