T20I series, United Arab Emirates vs Ireland, Dubai International Cricket Stadium. UAE: L L L L W; Ireland: L W W L L. UAE have won five straight head-to-head meetings. The opener sets early momentum in the series.
United Arab Emirates Review & Recent Form
Competition situation
United Arab Emirates are returning to T20I cricket after a long gap and need a strong start to build rhythm in home conditions.
Last five matches: L L L L W
UAE’s recent results show limited consistency, but they remain a difficult side to face in Dubai due to familiarity with the surface and slower scoring tempo. Their batting continues to revolve around captain Muhammad Waseem, who has been the leading run-scorer for UAE over the past year.
| Key UAE Batter (last 12 months) | Matches | Runs | Average | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muhammad Waseem | 22 | 669 | 30.4 | 5 |
Support runs are expected from Alishan Sharafu, Rohan Chopra and Asif Khan, with the middle order needing to convert starts into defendable totals.
In the bowling group, UAE’s strength comes from discipline and spin control. Haider Ali has been their most productive wicket-taker in the format.
| Key UAE Bowler (last 12 months) | Matches | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haider Ali | 21 | 29 | 5.65 |
UAE Predicted XI
Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Harshit Kaushik, Rohan Chopra, Mayank Kumar, Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Muhammad Rohid, Junaid Siddique, Haider Ali, Saghir Khan
Ireland Review & Recent Form
Competition situation
Ireland arrive with recent match practice and will be aiming to take control of the series early, despite playing away from home.
Last five matches: L W W L L
Ireland’s top order remains their clearest scoring route, led by Paul Stirling and Harry Tector. Tector has been Ireland’s most reliable batter in the past year, producing high-value runs at an elite average.
| Key Ireland Batter (last 12 months) | Matches | Runs | Average | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Tector | 12 | 390 | 55.7 | 3 |
Ireland’s bowling attack is built around left-arm spin and seam depth. Matthew Humphreys has provided regular breakthroughs in recent outings.
| Key Ireland Bowler (last 12 months) | Matches | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Humphreys | 10 | 15 | 6.36 |
Ireland Predicted XI
Paul Stirling (c), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Benjamin Calitz, Matthew Humphreys, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Craig Young, Gareth Delaney, George Dockrell
Head-to-Head Record
UAE have dominated this matchup in recent years, winning the last five completed meetings.
That trend matters in similar UAE home conditions, where totals often stay moderate and execution under pressure becomes decisive.
Lineups, Injuries & Availability
No confirmed injury withdrawals have been reported for either side heading into the opener. Both squads are expected to field close to full-strength XIs.
Odds, Markets & Betting Tips
UAE are priced as slight home favourites due to head-to-head control and conditions familiarity, while Ireland remain close in the market given recent activity and batting depth.
Common betting angles in Dubai conditions:
- UAE to win: narrow favourite range
- Under 160.5 total runs: strong venue trend
- Top UAE batter: Muhammad Waseem
- Top Ireland batter: Harry Tector
- Most wickets UAE: Haider Ali value in middle overs
The toss can influence pricing heavily, with teams batting first often holding an edge when surfaces slow later.
Where to Watch Online & Start Time
Official match coverage will be available via regional cricket broadcasters and streaming partners.
Start time is scheduled for Thursday evening local time in Dubai.
Prediction: United Arab Emirates vs Ireland, T20I Series
UAE’s record against Ireland and comfort at Dubai gives them a narrow edge, especially if they bat first and keep totals around the par range. The main risk comes from Ireland’s top order, as Tector and Stirling can shift matches quickly if powerplay wickets are avoided.
