UAE cricket had a night to remember in the Asia Cup 2025 as skipper Muhammad Waseem delivered a record-breaking performance against Oman. His innings not only powered his side to a convincing victory but also saw him surpass Indian legend Rohit Sharma. The match in Abu Dhabi turned into a historic occasion for UAE cricket, with Wasim creating milestones that will be remembered for years to come.
Muhammad Waseem goes past Rohit Sharma
Wasim etched his name in T20I history books with a remarkable batting display against Oman in the Asia Cup 2025. During his 69-run knock at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Wasim surpassed Indian great Rohit to become the fourth-highest run-scorer as a captain in T20 Internationals. His innings not only guided UAE to a commanding total but also solidified his reputation as one of the most consistent performers in the shortest format.
Wasim reached the milestone in just 59 innings, overtaking Rohit, who had accumulated 1905 runs in 62 innings as India’s T20I skipper. With this achievement, Wasim now has 2000 runs to his name as captain, leaving behind both Rohit and Virat Kohli in the elite list.
Elite company: Wasim joins the greats
The updated list of most runs as a captain in T20 Internationals highlights Wasim’s achievement. Pakistan’s Babar Azam still tops the chart with 2642 runs in 78 innings, followed by Australia’s Aaron Finch (2236 runs in 76 innings) and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson (2153 runs in 74 innings). Wasim now occupies the fourth spot with 2000 runs, while Rohit slips to fifth.
Most runs as captain in T20Is
- 2642 – Babar Azam (78 innings)
- 2236 – Aaron Finch (76 innings)
- 2153 – Kane Williamson (74 innings)
- 2000 – Muhammad Wasim (59 innings)*
- 1905 – Rohit Sharma (62 innings)
In addition to this milestone, Wasim has also become the fastest player to reach 3000 T20I runs in terms of balls faced. He achieved the landmark in just 1947 deliveries, outpacing explosive hitters like Jos Buttler, Aaron Finch, David Warner, and Rohit.
Fewest balls to reach 3000 T20I runs
- 1947 – Muhammad Wasim*
- 2068 – Jos Buttler
- 2078 – Aaron Finch
- 2113 – David Warner
- 2149 – Rohit Sharma
This feat once again underlines Wasim’s aggressive yet calculated approach at the crease, making him a central figure in UAE’s cricketing rise.
UAE dominate Oman to claim first win in Asia Cup
Speaking of the contest, UAE put up a disciplined performance with both bat and ball to secure a comfortable 42-run victory over Oman. After being asked to bat first, UAE rode on half-centuries from opener Alishan Sharafu and skipper Wasim. Sharafu played a fluent knock of 51 runs off 38 deliveries, setting the foundation, while Wasim anchored the innings with a captain’s knock of 69 runs from 54 balls. Their efforts propelled UAE to a competitive 172/5 in 20 overs.
In reply, Oman struggled to build momentum against a disciplined UAE bowling attack. Leg-spinner Junaid Siddiqui was the star with the ball, claiming 4 wickets for just 23 runs. The rest of the bowling unit chipped in with crucial contributions, restricting Oman to 130 all out. With this win, UAE not only registered their first victory in the tournament but also showcased their potential to challenge higher-ranked teams.
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