UAE Squad for T20 World Cup 2026: Muhammad Waseem Captain, Yasir Arafat Named Coach
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is ready to make noise on the global stage.
In a major announcement from Dubai today, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) unveiled the 15-man squad that will carry the nation’s hopes at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Set to make their third appearance in the tournament’s history, the UAE is banking on a blend of explosive batting power and a completely revamped coaching setup.
Leading the charge is the talismanic opener Muhammad Waseem, but the headlines are equally focused on the dugout. The UAE has secured the services of former Pakistan pacer Yasir Arafat to spearhead their bowling attack, adding a layer of subcontinental expertise just in time for the Indian leg of the tournament.
Here is the deep dive into the squad, the new “Super Staff,” and the brutal Group D schedule awaiting them.
The Squad: A Generational Shift
If you followed the UAE in the 2022 World Cup in Australia, you might not recognize this team.
The selectors have executed a massive overhaul. Only three players from the 2022 campaign have survived the cut to make the trip to India/Sri Lanka in 2026:
- Muhammad Waseem (Captain)
- Alishan Sharafu
- Junaid Siddique (Pacer)
The rest of the squad is fresh, hungry, and battle-hardened from the rigorous Associate circuit. Young talents like wicketkeeper Aryansh Sharma and all-rounder Dhruv Parashar represent the “New Era” of UAE cricket.
“We claimed our place after beating Japan in the Super Six… This team has earned its ticket the hard way,” an ECB official noted.
Table 1: UAE Squad for T20 World Cup 2026
| Role | Player Name | Key Stat / Note |
| Captain / Opener | Muhammad Waseem | 92 Matches (66 as Captain) |
| Batters | Alishan Sharafu | 2022 World Cup Veteran |
| Haider Ali | Middle Order stability | |
| Mayank Kumar | Explosive hitter | |
| Rohid Khan | Top order option | |
| Sohaib Khan | Reliable anchor | |
| Wicket-Keepers | Aryansh Sharma | Young sensation |
| All-Rounders | Dhruv Parashar | Key with bat & ball |
| Harshit Kaushik | Utility player | |
| Muhammad Farooq | Impact player | |
| Muhammad Zohaib | Spin all-rounder | |
| Fast Bowlers | Junaid Siddique | The Leader of the Pack |
| Muhammad Jawadullah | Left-arm angle (X-Factor) | |
| Muhammad Arfan | Skiddy pacer | |
| Simranjeet Singh | Death overs specialist |
The “Super Staff”: A Champion’s Dugout
The UAE isn’t just bringing players; they are bringing a coaching staff with serious pedigree.
- The Head Coach: Lalchand Rajput. The man who managed India to their historic 2007 T20 World Cup win. He knows exactly what it takes to win in this format.
- The Fast Bowling Coach: Yasir Arafat. The former Pakistan international (27 matches) has been drafted in to sharpen the pace attack. His experience in T20 leagues globally (Big Bash, T20 Blast) and knowledge of reverse swing will be vital on Indian pitches.
- The Fielding Coach: Stanley Chioza. Bringing energy from the Zimbabwean system to ensure the UAE remains one of the best fielding sides in the Associate world.
Table 2: UAE Technical Staff
| Role | Name | Nationality/Background |
| Head Coach | Lalchand Rajput | India (2007 WC Winner) |
| Fast Bowling Coach | Yasir Arafat | Pakistan (Ex-Pacer) |
| Fielding Coach | Stanley Chioza | Zimbabwe |
| Team Manager | Amjad Ezzi | UAE |
| Physiotherapist | Manish Pardeshi | – |
The “Group of Death” Challenge
UAE has been placed in Group D, and there are no easy games.
They will be based primarily in Delhi and Chennai, two venues known for spin and lower bounce—conditions that should theoretically suit their style of play.
However, the opposition is fierce. They face the might of South Africa, the consistency of New Zealand, the spin wizards of Afghanistan, and their Associate rivals Canada.
The strategy is clear: Beat Canada (Feb 13) and try to engineer one massive upset against the big three to sneak into the Super 8s.
Table 3: UAE Group D Fixtures
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Notes |
| Feb 10 (Tue) | New Zealand | Chennai | The Opener vs Black Caps |
| Feb 13 (Fri) | Canada | Delhi | Must-Win Match |
| Feb 16 (Mon) | Afghanistan | Delhi | The Spin Battle |
| Feb 18 (Wed) | South Africa | Delhi | Pace vs Pace |
Road to Chennai: The Immediate Timeline
There is no time to rest. The squad departs from Dubai to Chennai on Sunday, February 1st.
Before the main event, they have a packed warm-up schedule to acclimatize to Indian conditions.
- Jan 31: 2nd T20I vs Ireland (Dubai) – The Farewell Home Game
- Feb 1: Flight to Chennai.
- Feb 3: Warm-up vs Nepal (Chennai).
- Feb 6: Warm-up vs Italy (Chennai).
- Feb 10: Tournament Opener vs New Zealand.
Editorial Conclusion: Can Waseem’s Army Surprise the World?
Muhammad Waseem is one of the most destructive openers in Associate cricket. If he fires, UAE can chase 180+. With Lalchand Rajput’s tactical brain and Yasir Arafat polishing the bowlers, this is the most professional setup UAE has ever taken to a World Cup.
They are the underdogs of Group D, but in T20 cricket, underdogs bite. Just ask the teams who underestimated them in the qualifiers.
Watch out for February 13 vs Canada. That is the game where the Falcons must hunt.
Keep it locked to T20WorldCup2026.com for live coverage of UAE’s warm-up matches starting next week!
