UAE Cricket Team Players
Introduction
Friends, in this post today, we will tell you about the Top 10 UAE Cricket Team Players. Cricket in the UAE is not just a sport – it is a paradox. A desert country, where the sun shines and the sand stretches endlessly, has given birth to a cricket culture that is as unpredictable as the googly. The players? A mix of raw talent, expatriate flair and homegrown determination. They don’t just play; they defy expectations.
Here, we analyse the top 10 cricket stars from the UAE – the men who have turned dusty pitches into a stage for them to shine. Some names roar like sixes over mid-wicket.
Top 10 UAE Cricket Team Players
#1. Muhammad Waseem
The UAE’s T20I captain and a right-handed batting dynamo, Muhammad Waseem is the team’s heartbeat. With a strike rate that terrifies bowlers, he’s the architect of many UAE victories. His aggressive style blends power with precision—think towering sixes paired with razor-sharp running between wickets.
A veteran of the ILT20 (playing for MI Emirates), Waseem brings franchise cricket’s flair to the national side. His leadership is as fiery as his batting; he doesn’t just lead, he ignites. Whether anchoring a chase or launching a blitzkrieg, Waseem’s presence is electric. Stats? Over 500 T20I runs and a reputation for dismantling pace attacks. His duel with Trent Boult in the ILT20 was a masterclass in fearless cricket.
#2. Rohan Mustafa
A Swiss Army knife of cricket, Mustafa bats, bowls spin, and fields like a panther. With over 1,000 T20I runs and 60+ wickets, he’s the UAE’s most versatile player. His off-breaks are laced with guile—no fancy celebrations, just relentless accuracy. As an opener, he’s the calm before the storm,
building innings with monk-like patience before unleashing calculated aggression. Remember his 4/18 against Ireland? A spell that whispered menace. At 35, he’s the elder statesman, mentoring kids like Aayan Khan while still outsmarting batters twice his size.
#3. Chirag Suri
The UAE’s stylish No. 3, Suri is elegance personified. A product of India’s cricket nurseries, his technique is textbook—straight drives like laser beams, footwork as precise as a metronome. But don’t peg him as a pretty player; his 121 against Scotland in 2018 was a gritty knock under seaming skies.
Recently spotted playing pickleball with Sanju Samson, his athleticism transcends cricket. A silent warrior, Suri’s 1,500+ international runs scream louder than any trash talk
#4. Zahoor Khan – The Steel-Fingered Assassin
With a run-up as menacing as a desert sandstorm, Zahoor Khan is the UAE’s pace spearhead. This 34-year-old right-arm quick has terrorized batters across Associate cricket, combining raw speed with lethal accuracy. His 6/34 against Ireland in 2017 remains the best bowling figures by a UAE player in ODIs – a spell where his yorkers uprooted stumps like date palms in a gale.
Khan’s mastery of reverse swing in the UAE’s arid conditions makes him particularly dangerous in death overs. His IPL experience with Sunrisers Hyderabad (2018) added polish to his natural aggression. Beyond statistics (100+ international wickets), Khan brings an invaluable veteran presence,
mentoring young quicks while still cranking up speeds of 140+ kph. His duel with Babar Azam during the 2022 Asia Cup showed that even world-class batters respect his craft.
#5. Junaid Siddique – The Silent Strangler
The UAE’s left-arm orthodox magician, Siddique’s bowling is deceptively simple yet devastatingly effective. With an economy rate under 6 in T20Is, he’s the ultimate partnership breaker. His 4/14 against Nepal in 2022 showcased his ability to exploit even the slightest turn,
while his arm ball has fooled countless batters. What makes Siddique remarkable is his consistency – he delivers wicket-to-wicket with metronomic precision, building pressure until batters self-destruct. The Sharjah native’s rise through UAE’s age-group system makes him a homegrown success story.
His 5-wicket haul against the USA in 2023 proved instrumental in securing ODI status. Off the field, Siddique’s quiet demeanor belies his fierce competitiveness – a true silent assassin of Associate cricket.
#6. Vriitya Aravind – The Boy Wonder
At just 22, wicketkeeper-batsman Aravind has already rewritten UAE cricket history. The youngest player to score an ODI fifty (at 17 years 233 days), his glovework is equally precocious – his lightning stumpings recall MS Dhoni in his prime. Aravind’s 97* against Ireland in 2021 announced his arrival as a special talent,
blending traditional shots with innovative scoops and ramps. His recent century against Nepal in the ACC Premier Cup demonstrated remarkable maturity for his age. Having trained at the MCC Academy in England, Aravind brings technical refinement rare in Associate cricket. With over 1,500 international runs already,
he’s on track to become UAE’s greatest-ever batter. His fearless approach against top teams (a blistering 70 against Sri Lanka) suggests the youngster thrives under pressure.
#7. Basil Hameed – The Unseen Architect
The ultimate utility player, Hameed’s value transcends statistics. Whether anchoring the innings at No. 5, bowling tidy off-breaks, or patrolling the covers with panther-like agility, he’s UAE’s Mr. Dependable. His match-winning 60* against Namibia in the 2023 World Cup Qualifier showcased his ice-cool temperament in chases.
Hameed’s ability to rotate strike (career strike rate of 85 in ODIs) makes him the glue that holds UAE’s middle order together. His 3/15 with the ball against Canada proved he’s more than just a part-timer. What coaches love most is his cricketing IQ – Hameed reads situations like a grandmaster, adjusting his game to the team’s needs. Now 29, he’s entering his prime years as UAE’s silent strategist.
#8. Ahmed Raza – The Professor
The former UAE captain remains their most cerebral cricketer. Raza’s left-arm spin is a masterclass in control – he’s bowled more dot balls (62%) in T20Is than any contemporary Associate bowler. His 5/19 against Ireland in 2021 was a slow-bowling exhibition, using subtle variations in pace and trajectory to bamboozle batters.
As captain (2019-2022), Raza transformed UAE into a disciplined unit, emphasizing fielding standards. Even post-captaincy, his mentorship shapes UAE’s young spinners. His 100+ international wickets include prized scalps like Paul Stirling and Kyle Coetzer.
Raza’s analytical mind (he’s pursuing a sports psychology degree) makes him UAE’s on-field tactician – the player opponents least want to face in crunch situations.
#9. Alishan Sharafu – The Maverick
The most unpredictable talent in UAE cricket, Sharafu can win games single-handedly or perish spectacularly. His 73 against Bangladesh in the 2022 Asia Cup (including sixes off Taskin Ahmed) announced his fearlessness against top attacks. Equally adept at opening or finishing, Sharafu’s strike rate of 135 in T20Is makes him UAE’s X-factor.
His unorthodox technique – featuring exaggerated backlifts and audacious scoops – gives coaches nightmares but delights fans. The 21-year-old’s medium-pace bowling adds another dimension, with clever slower balls that have dismissed the likes of Gerhard Erasmus.
While consistency remains a work in progress, Sharafu’s match-winning potential makes him UAE’s most exciting prospect. His recent century in the Emirates D10 tournament suggests the maverick is maturing.
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#10. Aayan Afzal Khan – The Prodigy
At just 18, Aayan has already shattered multiple records – youngest UAE player in all formats, youngest to take an international 5-wicket haul (5/34 vs. Ireland, 2023). This left-arm spinning all-rounder combines classical action with modern aggression.
His batting potential was evident in a blistering 54* against New Zealand A, while his bowling has drawn comparisons to Shakib Al Hasan for its control and variation. Aayan’s 4/20 in the U19 World Cup showcased his big-match temperament. Having trained at the Rajasthan Royals academy,
he brings IPL-honed skills to the national team. With a first-class average of 40 with the bat and 22 with the ball, Aayan isn’t just UAE’s future – he’s their present. His fearless approach suggests the teenager could become Associate cricket’s first global superstar.
Conclusion: The UAE’s Cricket Revolution – Where Sand Meets Steel
Today you have learned about the UAE Cricket Team Players, the UAE’s cricket scene is no longer a desert mirage – it is a rich oasis of talent, where raw passion and refined skill meet. These ten players are emblematic of the country’s remarkable rise in world cricket,
proving that greatness is not just confined to traditional powerhouses. From the thunderous swagger of Muhammad Wasim to the teenage brilliance of Ayan Afzal Khan, this is a team that plays with the fearlessness of underdogs and the precision of veterans.
It’s not just the numbers that make UAE cricket special – though the statistics are dazzling – but the stories behind them. These are the players who balance day jobs and international fame, practising on pitches sweltering under the sun that stuns Full Member nations.
The all-round mastery of Rohan Mustafa, the extraordinary brilliance of Vriti Arvind and the fast bowling of Zahoor Khan are not just individual achievements – they are chapters of the UAE’s cricket revolution. The team has its eyes set on World Cup qualification and beating other giants, but one thing is clear:
UAE cricket is now beyond mere ‘little teams’. They are craftsmen building a legacy – a cover drive, a second, a heartbreaking win. The future? It’s not just bright; it’s dazzling.
Which one of these is your favourite player? Let us know by commenting
