United Arab Emirates opener Muhammad Zohaib has been sent back home from Chennai due to disciplinary issues, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Monday, just a day before the team’s opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup against New Zealand.
In an official statement, the ECB said that Zohaib had been released from the squad and returned home, adding that “further details will be shared in due course.”
The UAE are set to face New Zealand on Tuesday in Chennai, marking their first T20 World Cup appearance since 2022. Zohaib’s absence comes as a significant setback for the side, especially after a difficult run in the warm-up matches. In their most recent practice game, the UAE were bowled out for just 81 against Italy on Friday.
Zohaib’s role had already been in flux during the warm-ups. After scoring 19 off 26 balls while batting at No. 3 against Nepal, he was pushed down to No. 9 in the next match against Italy. Following his exit, the team has confirmed 21-year-old Aryansh Sharma as the opening partner for captain Muhammad Waseem.
Zohaib made his T20I debut for the UAE in May 2025 and has since featured in 16 matches, scoring 303 runs at an average of 20.2 and a strike rate of 103.76.
Speaking ahead of the New Zealand clash, captain Muhammad Waseem spoke about the team’s preparation and strong dressing-room unity. He highlighted that the squad includes players of both Indian and Pakistani origin, but stressed that they play as one unit.
“There is no India or Pakistan here. We are playing for the UAE,” Waseem said at the pre-match press conference. “We live like a family. We spend time together, eat together, and support each other.”
Waseem also said the team would take confidence from their T20I win over New Zealand in Dubai in 2023, while acknowledging that conditions in Chennai would present a different challenge.
“Our strategy is very simple. We beat them before, but this is a different venue, a different tournament and a different game. So we have prepared with a new plan,” he added.
New Zealand, meanwhile, will be wary of taking the UAE lightly, especially after associate teams such as the USA, Nepal and the Netherlands have pushed stronger opponents in the tournament so far.
