The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is gearing up for an exciting tour of Namibia, participating in the Capricorn Triangular Series from September 6th to September 14th. This T20I series will feature three teams: Namibia, Zimbabwe, and the UAE, with each team set to play the others three times. All matches will be held at the Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek. The UAE squad, led by Esha Oza, will depart from Dubai on September 3rd.
The UAE made its mark in international cricket during the 2018 ICC World T20 Qualifier in the Netherlands. To date, they have played 86 matches, winning 50 of them. They recently competed in the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. For this series in Namibia, the UAE squad has undergone three changes from the Asia Cup lineup. Players like Emily Thomas, Khushi Mohan Sharma, and Suraksha Kotte have been replaced by new inclusions, including Archara Supriya and Keziah Miriam Sabin.
The squad is a blend of seasoned campaigners and promising newcomers. Esha Oza, the captain, is a standout player with a record of 2,138 runs from 82 matches and 56 wickets. Her highest score of 158* came against Bahrain in 2022, and she has been in exceptional form this year, amassing 502 runs and 8 wickets in 14 matches. Vaishnave Mahesh, with over five years of experience, has taken 82 wickets, including a best of 4 for 10 against Bahrain. Theertha Satish, a wicketkeeper-batter, has scored 1,406 runs in 69 matches, with a top score of 93 against Hong Kong. Additionally, Khushi Sharma, known for her exceptional bowling, is the only bowler in the squad with a five-wicket haul, having achieved a best of 5 for 22 against Bhutan.
The squad for the Capricorn Triangular Series is as follows: Esha Oza (captain), Archara Supriya, Heena Harish Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kavisha Kumari Egodage, Keziah Miriam Sabin, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Rinitha Rajith, Rishitha Rajith, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper), and Vaishnave Mahesh. The support staff includes Subha Venkataraman as manager, Ahmed Raza as head coach, and Merin Saji as physiotherapist.
The UAE’s matches in the Capricorn Triangular Series are scheduled as follows:
– September 6: Namibia vs UAE
– September 7: UAE vs Zimbabwe
– September 9: UAE vs Namibia
– September 10: Zimbabwe vs UAE
– September 12: Namibia vs UAE
– September 13: UAE vs Zimbabwe
After the conclusion of the six matches, the top two teams with the most wins will face each other in the final, promising an exciting end to the series. The tournament aims to provide valuable exposure and match practice for the teams involved.