UAE Send Muhammad Zohaib Home for Disciplinary Reasons Ahead of T20 World Cup Opener

The United Arab Emirates have sent batter Muhammad Zohaib home on disciplinary grounds on the eve of their opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the decision, saying Zohaib had been released from the squad for “disciplinary reasons,” with further details to be provided in due course.

UAE are scheduled to face New Zealand in Chennai on Tuesday in their first T20 World Cup appearance since 2022. Zohaib’s departure further depletes a batting line-up already under pressure after being bowled out for 81 in their most recent warm-up match against Italy on Friday.

Zohaib featured in both of UAE’s warm-up games. He batted at No. 9 against Italy, while in the previous match against Nepal he scored 19 off 26 balls batting at No. 3. UAE have since settled on 21-year-old Aryansh Sharma to open the batting alongside captain Muhammad Waseem.

Zohaib made his international debut in May 2025 and has represented UAE in 16 T20 Internationals, scoring 303 runs at an average of 20.20 and a strike rate of 103.76.

Speaking ahead of the New Zealand match, Waseem said the team remained united and well-prepared despite the setback. He added that the squad would draw confidence from UAE’s T20I victory over New Zealand in Dubai in 2023.

“Our strategy is very simple,” Waseem said. “We beat them before in UAE, but this time it’s a different venue, different tournament and different conditions. We have come with a different plan. They are a good and experienced team, but we have prepared ourselves like a champion team and will try to play good cricket.”

Waseem also dismissed any concerns about divisions within the squad, which includes players of Indian and Pakistani origin.

“There is no India-Pakistan. We are playing for the UAE,” he said. “We live like a family, spend time together and eat together. There is no Indian or Pakistani in the UAE team.”