Asia Cup 2025: UAE, Oman desperate for redemption after nightmare starts

UAE and Oman are set to face off in a crucial Group A match of the Asia Cup 2025 on Monday, September 15, at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Both teams are looking to bounce back after heavy defeats to India and Pakistan. With elimination on the line, a loss would all but end their chances of advancing to the Super Four, barring a miraculous turnaround.

UAE’s campaign suffered a blow in their opening match against India, where they were bowled out for just 57 runs. Kuldeep Yadav’s exceptional bowling performance, which saw him take 4 wickets for only 7 runs, dismantled the UAE batting lineup. Shivam Dube also chipped in with 3 wickets for 4 runs, leaving the UAE with no room for recovery.

India chased down the target in a record-breaking 27 balls, marking one of the shortest-ever T20I matches. This heavy defeat not only placed the UAE at the bottom of the Group A standings but also resulted in a disastrous net run rate of -10.483, significantly hindering their chances of progressing in the tournament.

Can Oman bounce back?

Oman, too, faced a heavy defeat in their opener, losing by 93 runs to Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Pakistan posted a competitive 160/7, with Mohammad Haris leading the charge with a fluent 66 off 43 balls. In reply, Oman was bowled out for just 67 runs in 16.4 overs. Only Hammad Mirza (27) and Aamir Kaleem (13) managed double-digit scores, while seven batters were dismissed for three or fewer runs.

This crushing defeat has left Oman in third place in the group with a net run rate of -4.650. Their slim hopes of advancing to the Super Four now depend on significant improvements in both their batting and bowling departments.

UAE vs Oman: Pitch Report

The pitch in Abu Dhabi is expected to offer a good balance between bat and ball. Fast bowlers may benefit from extra bounce with the new ball, while batting conditions are likely to improve as the game progresses.

UAE vs Oman: Match Details

UAE and Oman will play at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The match will start at 5:30 pm IST.

UAE vs Oman: Livestreaming

The tournament will be livestreamed on the SonyLiv app. The matches will also be broadcast on Sony Sports Network.

UAE vs Oman: Probable Playing XIs

UAE Probable Playing XI

Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Asif Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Junaid Siddique, Simranjeet Singh

Oman Probable Playing XI

Jatinder Singh (c), Aamir Kaleem, Hammad Mirza, Vinayak Shukla (wk), Shah Faisal, Hassnain Shah, Mohammad Nadeem, Zikria Islam, Sufyan Mehmood, Shakeel Ahmed, Samay Shrivastava