Zimbabwe Cricket will host the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Women’s team for a significant white-ball series in Bulawayo starting September 26. The series will feature four One-Day Internationals (ODIs) followed by two Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
The International Cricket Council (ICC) granted UAE Women’s team ODI status for the first time, replacing the United States among 16 global women’s teams holding this status for the current cycle. Their elevation is based on ICC annual rankings, with the UAE ranked 16th in the T20I table at the time of the update.
UAE’s first official women’s ODI series is scheduled against Zimbabwe in September-October 2025, the squad for which has been revealed.
United Arab Emirates Squad for Zimbabwe Tour 2025:
Esha Rohit Oza (C), Theertha Satish, Heena Hotchandani, Lavanya Keny, Vishnavee Mahesh, Udeni Kulipeli Arachchi, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Suraksha Kotte, Al Maseera Jahangir, Indhuja Nandakumar, Rinitha Rajith, Emily Thomas, Katie Thompson, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Sashikala Silva
The UAE Women’s cricket team is nearing a historic milestone, having played 99 T20I matches with their next game marking their 100th T20I encounter. Their latest match, against Nepal on May 19, 2025, in the ICC Women’s World Cup Asia Region Qualifier Super 3 stage, ended in a narrow loss. During this Super 3 phase, UAE played six matches and secured two wins, demonstrating a competitive edge.
Notably, Keziah Miriam, who featured in the last match against Nepal, has not been included in the current squad, reflecting continuing selection decisions as the UAE team prepares for upcoming challenges.
Leading the team is captain Esha Oza, a 27-year-old right-handed batter and right-arm off-break bowler. Oza has accumulated 2,588 runs in T20Is with the highest score of 158*, and has taken 69 wickets, boasting an exceptional best bowling figure of 3 wickets for no runs (3/0).
Impressively, she holds the record for the most consecutive innings without a duck in Women’s T20 Internationals, with a streak of 93 innings a testament to her remarkable consistency and resilience at the crease.
Wicketkeeper-batter Theertha Satish, aged 21, is another vital contributor with 1,866 T20I runs and strong skills behind the stumps. Vaishnave Mahesh, 18, is their leading bowler, a slow left-arm orthodox bowler with 94 wickets in only 78 innings.
The upcoming series will be UAE’s first ODI series against Zimbabwe since gaining ODI status. In T20Is between the two teams, they have played six matches, with UAE winning three and Zimbabwe winning three, reflecting a balanced competition between the sides. This evenly matched form sets the stage for an exciting and competitive ODI series ahead.
This moment marks a pivotal phase for UAE Women’s cricket, as they continue to establish themselves internationally, building on their recent elevation to ODI status and striving for further milestones.
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