Photo: Collected

CHENNAI, India, Feb 10, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The United Arab Emirates made 173-6 against New Zealand in their opening T20 World Cup Group D match in Chennai on Tuesday, largely thanks to their captain Muhammad Waseem's 66 not out.

The UAE missed out on the last T20 World Cup in 2024 and arrived in India with an inexperienced squad containing only three players from their 2022 campaign.

They only just made it through Asian qualifying behind Nepal and Oman and lost to Italy, the lowest-ranked side in the tournament, in a warm-up match.

Choosing to bat first, UAE shrugged off losing an early wicket as Waseem and Alishan Sharafu put on 107 for the second wicket.

It took a sensational piece of New Zealand fielding to break the partnership.

Mark Chapman intercepted a Sharafu slog-sweep a whisker inside the boundary and before he stepped over the ropes relayed the ball to Daryl Mitchell to complete the dismissal.

That left the UAE 119-2 after 14.2 overs, and though they lost another wicket soon after, Waseem powered on.

The 31-year-old, who was one of those who did feature at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, hit four fours and three sixes in facing 45 balls.