Junaid Siddique is in the UAE's nomination for the upcoming home T20I tri-series.
Dubai: Fast bowler Junaid Siddique is among the key players to be included in the UAE squad for the upcoming home T20I tri-series against Afghanistan and Pakistan in Sharjah from August 29 to September 7.
The series serves as a warm-up match for the three teams as the UAE hosts the Men's T20 Asia Cup from September 9 to 28. The 32-year-old Siddique has played 59 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 71 T20Is for the UAE, taking 76 and 96 wickets respectively in both white-ball formats.
Apart from Siddique, who last played a T20I in December 2024, uncapped all-rounder Harshit Kaushik, leg-spin all-rounder Mohammad Farooq and left-arm bowler Mohammad Jawadullah have been included in place of Akif Raji, Matiullah Khan and Zohaib Zubair.
The rest of the UAE squad looks familiar with players like captain Mohammad Wasim, Alishan Shrafo, Arinesh Sharma, Rahul Chopra, Mohammad Zohaib and Sagheer Khan. UAE will face Pakistan in the opening match of the tri-series on August 30.
Apart from Siddique, who last played a T20I in December 2024, uncapped all-rounder Harshit Kaushik, leg-spin all-rounder Mohammad Farooq and left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Jawadullah have been included in place of Akif Raji, Matiullah Khan and Zohaib Zubair.
The remaining matches of the tri-series are fast-paced - they face Afghanistan on September 1, then face Pakistan again on September 4 and Afghanistan again on September 5.
UAE, coached by former Indian opener Lalchand Rajput, are in Group A of the Asia Cup alongside India, Oman and Pakistan. The UAE squad for the mega event will be announced soon. UAE will begin their Asia Cup campaign against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 10.
UAE T20I tri-series squad: Mohammad Wasim (captain), Alishan Shrafo, Aryanesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Asif Khan, Dhruv Prasad, Ethan D'Souza, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Farooq, Mohammad Jawadullah, Mohammad Zohaib, Rahul Khan, Rohail Khan and Chaudhary Khan.
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