Waseem's 66 enables UAE to post 173-6 against New Zealand

The UAE missed out on the last T20 World Cup in 2024 and arrived in India with an inexperienced squad containing only three players from their 2022 campaign. They only just made it through Asian qualifying behind Nepal and Oman and lost to Italy, the lowest-ranked side in the tournament, in a warm-up match. Choosing to bat first, UAE shrugged off losing an early wicket as Waseem and Alishan Sharafu put on 107 for the second wicket. It took a sensational piece of New Zealand fielding to break the partnership.