UAE Players Who Can Upset India In Their First Match Of Asia Cup 2025

Aashay Chopade

Muhammad Waseem for UAE (Source: AFP)Muhammad Waseem for UAE (Source: AFP)

Asia Cup 2025 is all set to begin on September 9, and on the second day of the competition, the hosts, UAE, will take on power-packed India. Suryakumar Yadav and his boys would go into the game as firm favourites, and the UAE would have to produce something special if they want to challenge India.

However, the UAE have played some full-member nations in the recent past and have done reasonably well, even beating Bangladesh in the home series. Thus, they do have some quality players who can be dangerous on their day in the shortest format of the game. Therefore, in this article, we will look at three of those cricketers who have the potential to upset India.

Muhammad Waseem

Muhammad Waseem, the swashbuckling opener from the UAE, would be the biggest threat for India in their Asia Cup clash. He is the captain of the side and has a great T20I record. He has three hundreds in T20Is which speaks a lot about his destructive nature with the bat.

Muhammad Waseem In T20Is

Criterion
Data
Innings82
Runs2922
Average37.94
Strike-Rate155.67
100s/50s3/23

The right-handed batter is a clean-hitter and has been in stellar form against some big teams in 2025. In the recently held tri-series, too, he was one of the shining lights for his team with 163 runs at a strike-rate of 158.25 and an average of 40.75. Thus, Waseem is surely a threat who can punish Indian bowlers if he gets going.

Asif Khan

The 35-year-old is also one of the fiercest hitters of the cricket ball in UAE cricket. He has played plenty of match-defining knocks in the middle overs over the years and displayed his might against Pakistan and the UAE too, with scores of 77 and 40 in the tri-series.

Asif Khan In T20Is

Criterion
Data
Innings53
Runs1298
Average30.18
Strike-Rate139.87
100s/50s0/6

His overall record is also brilliant in T20Is, as shown in the table, and he has the potential to attack Indian spinners in the middle overs. Thus, getting rid of him early would be crucial for India in the September 10 clash.

Haider Ali 

The left-arm orthodox spinner has made a brilliant start to his T20I career. He picked three wickets in the series decider against Bangladesh earlier this year, which helped the UAE create history and was effective in the tri-series against Afghanistan and Pakistan too.

Haider Ali In T20Is

Criterion
Data
Innings13
Wickets
22
Average12.90
Strike-Rate14.1
Economy Rate5.46

The cricketer gave away runs at an economy rate of just 6.25 with six wickets to his name in the tri-series and was one bowler who controlled things for his country. Indian batters have not played him in the past, and he can use that to his advantage with his accuracy and experience in Dubai. Also, Indian right-handers have the tendency to struggle against left-arm spinners, and it makes Haider a player to watch out for in the Asia Cup clash.