T20 World Cup 2026: UAE Elect to Bat Against New Zealand in Group C Clash
Chennai: The United Arab Emirates national cricket team won the toss and elected to bat against New Zealand national cricket team in a Group C match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday.
The match marks UAE’s first appearance in the tournament, and the side will be keen to begin their campaign on a positive note. Led by Muhammad Waseem, the team qualified for the World Cup after finishing third at the T20 World Cup Asia and EAP Qualifier 2025–26, held in Muscat.
At the toss, Waseem said the pitch looked good for batting and was expected to play similarly in both innings. He acknowledged the challenge of finalising the playing XI but expressed confidence in the team’s balance of spin and pace. He said the UAE wanted to showcase their progress in T20 cricket despite being placed in a tough group and added that the side had arrived with strong confidence and a positive mindset.
New Zealand, who opened their campaign with a win over Afghanistan national cricket team, will be aiming to maintain momentum. Captain Mitchell Santner said the wicket appeared good for batting throughout the match and that his side would have opted to bat as well if they had won the toss. He confirmed that New Zealand were fielding the same playing XI as their previous game.
Santner said preparation focused on reviewing team plans and using video analysis to assess the opposition. He praised the UAE, noting their ability to be dangerous on slower surfaces and recalling their previous win against New Zealand in Dubai. He added that his team needed to remain alert and disciplined throughout the contest.
Playing XIs
United Arab Emirates: Aryansh Sharma (wk), Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Mayank Kumar, Sohaib Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Arfan, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Rohid Khan
New Zealand: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), Jimmy Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy
Our Thoughts
UAE’s decision to bat first reflects confidence in their preparation and belief in their batting unit on what is expected to be a consistent surface. Facing New Zealand in their opening game presents a stiff test, but early runs could put pressure on an experienced opposition. For New Zealand, familiarity with conditions and recent form make them favourites, but their captain’s cautious praise of the UAE underlines the risks of underestimating emerging teams in global tournaments.