The United Arab Emirates emerged victorious in a thrilling final against Gulf rivals Oman to secure the sole qualifying berth for next year’s Asia Cup. Skipper Muhammad Waseem played a pivotal role in UAE’s success, smashing his third T20I century to set up a comfortable 55-run win at Al Amerat.
Waseem’s innings was a masterclass in aggressive batting, as he took the Oman bowlers to task with a flurry of boundaries and sixes. Partnering with Alishan Sharafu and later with Asif Khan, Waseem reached his century off just 55 deliveries, finishing with a brilliant 100 runs before being dismissed.
In response, Oman’s top order crumbled under the pressure of the chase, with Junaid Siddique wreaking havoc by picking up crucial wickets early on. Despite a late fightback from Pratik Athavale, Oman fell short of the target, handing UAE a well-deserved victory.
While UAE secured their spot in the Asia Cup, Oman’s efforts were not in vain as they earned a berth at the ACC Emerging Teams Cup in Sri Lanka. Hong Kong also booked their place in the tournament with a convincing win over Nepal in the third-place play-off.
Overall, it was a thrilling day of cricket with UAE emerging as the champions and Oman and Hong Kong securing their spots in upcoming tournaments. The fans were treated to some exceptional performances, setting the stage for more exciting cricket in the future.