UAE vs Bahrain: The Gulf Cricket T20I Championship 2024 kicks off with a riveting clash between the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain at the ICC Academy in Dubai. With both teams vying for an early advantage in the tournament, this matchup promises an exciting start. UAE, ranked 16th in the ICC T20I standings, come into the game as favorites against 26th-ranked Bahrain. However, Bahrain’s tenacity and ability to spring surprises cannot be overlooked.

Head to Head

• Matches Played: 5
• UAE Wins: 3
• Bahrain Wins: 2
• Win Percentage: UAE (60%), Bahrain (40%)

Last Five Meetings

1. 28-Nov-2024: UAE won by 8 wickets (with 3 balls remaining).
2. 13-Apr-2024: UAE won by 37 runs.
3. 30-Oct-2023: UAE won by 5 wickets (with 10 balls remaining).
4. 22-Sep-2023: Bahrain won by 3 runs.
5. 21-Feb-2022: Bahrain won by 2 runs.

Form Guide

UAE: WWWWW
The UAE are in scintillating form, boasting five consecutive wins. Their recent victory over Bahrain in November 2024 showcased their dominance with an all-round performance.

Bahrain: WLWLW
Bahrain’s form has been inconsistent, alternating between wins and losses. Their batting has shown glimpses of brilliance, but their bowlers have struggled against top-tier opposition.

Key Players

United Arab Emirates

• Alishan Sharafu: With 331 runs in his last 9 matches at an impressive strike rate of 140.85, Sharafu is a linchpin in UAE’s batting lineup.
• Muhammad Waseem: A destructive opener with a strike rate of 166.84, Waseem can take the game away in the powerplay.
• Muhammad Jawadullah: A consistent wicket-taker with 19 wickets in 10 matches and an economy of 7.22.

Bahrain

• Haider Butt: A prolific batter with 452 runs in his last 10 matches, averaging 64.57. He will be Bahrain’s key hope with the bat.
• Ali Dawood: Bahrain’s spearhead bowler with 18 wickets in 10 matches at an economy of 6.27.
• Rizwan Butt: Adds depth to Bahrain’s bowling attack with 10 wickets in 9 matches.

Squads

UAE
Alishan Sharafu, Asif Khan, Muhammad Waseem, Ali Naseer, Dhruv Parashar, Muhammad Zuhaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Syed Haider (wk), Tanish Suri (wk), Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah, Nilansh Keswani, Omid Rahman, Simranjeet Kang.

Bahrain
Fiaz Ahmed, Haider Butt, Junaid Aziz, Muhammad Basil, Prashant Kurup (c), Ubaid Minhas, Yousif Wali, Asif Ali, Imran Anwar, Sai Sarthak, Sarfaraz Ali, Ahmer Bin Nasir (wk), Umer Toor (wk), Abdul Majid, Imran Khan, Muhammad Salman, Rizwan Butt, Sameer Yousuf.

UAE vs Bahrain Prediction

UAE’s recent form and all-around strength make them the favorites. Bahrain will need standout performances from Haider Butt and Ali Dawood to challenge the hosts. Expect UAE to use their superior ranking and momentum to clinch this opening encounter.

Prediction: UAE to win by a comfortable margin.

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