Last Updated on 5 months by Charbel Coorey
United Arab Emirates (UAE) have achieved one of their finest victories, coming from 1-0 down to beat Test nation Bangladesh 2-1 in their T20I series in Sharjah. After chasing 206 in the second T20I, the hosts produced another excellent display in the third match, chasing the 163-run target with five balls and seven wickets to spare.
After Tanzid Hasan’s early onslaught, no one else could deliver for Bangladesh. They were five down for 57 by the seventh over, with Tanzid contributing 40 off 18 balls himself. The Tigers then collapsed further to 84/8, with their final total of 162/9 somewhat of a miracle thanks to Jaker Ali (41 off 34 balls), Hasan Mahmud (26* off 15 balls) and Shoriful Islam (16* off 7 balls).
Haider Ali was outstanding. The left-arm spinner took 3/7 in a dominant display. His seven runs conceded is the fewest by a bowler from an Associate nation against a Full Member in a men’s T20I.
In reply, the UAE were in control despite losing skipper Muhammad Waseem, the star of the second match, just nine balls into the innings. Alishan Sharafu (68* off 47 balls) and Asif Khan (41* off 26 balls) took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half of the innings, combining for a 86-run stand to seal victory.
Reactions: UAE defeat Bangladesh 2-1, providing reminder of the Tigers’ woes
The triumph is UAE’s second series win against a Full Member after beating Ireland 2-1 in 2021. They were also 1-0 down on that occasion.
Also, UAE had suffered a chastening loss to Saudi Arabia in December 2024. For Bangladesh, this defeat will surely raise big questions on the state of their cricket. This result comes a year after losing 2-1 to the United States of America (USA) which preceded the T20 World Cup. The lack of progress in all formats of cricket – especially T20Is – has left fans frustrated and critics justified.
Here are some of the reactions to the series. “Nice to see smiles on the face of UAE cricket. Well done,” wrote former West Indies fast bowler and current commentator Ian Bishop on X, formerly Twitter.
Bangladesh will now travel to Pakistan for three T20Is. How they respond against a Pakistan team also looking to find form will be interesting to see.
