UAE cricket team represents the United Arab Emirates in international cricket. They have played 2 world cup so far – 1996 and 2015.
The UAE national cricket team has benefitted immensely from the contributions of players born in India over the years. Lets look at some of the prominent Indian-origin cricketers who donned the national colors of UAE are profiled below:
Krishna Chandran: Hailing from Kerala, Chandran was a valuable all-rounder for UAE. Apart from representing Kerala domestic teams, the left-handed batsman also played in the 2015 ODI World Cup for UAE. Known for his tight off-spin and big hits lower down the order, Chandran played over 15 matches and scored over 500 runs for UAE.
Ansh Tandon: The Delhi-born wicketkeeper-batsman made his UAE debut in 2020 and has since established himself in the middle-order. Still only 21, Tandon possesses the right temperament and technique required for the international game. He will be crucial to UAE’s future plans.
Alishan Sharafu: At 18, Sharafu is one of the brightest young talents in UAE cricket today. Born in Kerala, the right-arm medium pacer has already shown glimpses of his potential in the few matches played so far. UAE will be banking on Sharafu to serve them for many years.
Basil Hameed: Hailing from Kozhikode, Hameed has been a valuable contributor with both bat and ball for UAE. The 31-year-old all-rounder strikes the ball cleanly and his seam-up deliveries have troubled even top international batsmen. Hameed is also a leader in the field.
Vriitya Aravind: Born in Chennai, Aravind was a top-order bulwark for UAE. The 29-year-old right-hander accumulated over 1000 runs for UAE, including a hundred, and also chipped in with his part-time off-spin. Aravind now plies his trade in T10 leagues.
These are some of the stellar Indian-origin cricketers who have served UAE cricket exceptionally well over the years. While some have retired, others like Vriitya Aravind are torchbearers of the future. UAE’s rising graph in international cricket owes a lot to the contributions of players from the sub-continent, especially India.
