The United Arab Emirates have unveiled their 15-member squad for the Women’s Asia Cup 2026, with experienced batter Esha Oza set to lead the side in a major tournament on home soil. The continental competition gets underway on August 28 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with the UAE preparing for a challenging Group B campaign against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Indonesia.
Esha Oza to lead a talented side
Oza will be central to the UAE’s hopes of making an impact in the tournament. The right-hander is among the country’s most accomplished players in women’s T20 international cricket and brings considerable leadership experience to the squad.
She has captained the UAE in 54 WT20I matches, overseeing 37 victories for an impressive win percentage of 68.51. Her experience will be particularly valuable as the UAE face some of the strongest teams in the competition.
Oza’s contribution with the bat is equally significant. Across 117 WT20I appearances, she has scored 3,403 runs at an average of 34.72 and a strike rate of 119.69. Her tally includes five centuries and 14 half-centuries, underlining her importance at the top of the UAE batting order.
Familiar names highlight strong unit
The UAE squad features several players who have become familiar names in the country’s women’s cricket setup. Archara Supriya, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar and Janani Thirukkumaran are among those selected, while Lavanya Keny, Mehul Kulkarni and Rinitha Rajith also make the cut.
The squad also includes Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish, Uttara Iyer and Vaishnave Mahesh. With a blend of experience and emerging talent, the hosts will hope their familiarity with local conditions can give them an advantage during the group stage.
Campaign begins against defending champions
The UAE will face arguably their toughest assignment first when they take on defending champions Sri Lanka on August 29 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The hosts will then meet Indonesia on September 4 before completing their Group B fixtures against Bangladesh on September 8. The UAE will need to finish strongly if they are to progress to the knockout stage.
The semi-finals are scheduled for September 10 and 11, followed by the final on September 13. With the tournament being staged in the UAE for the first time, the home side will be eager to make the occasion memorable with a strong showing.
UAE squad for Women’s Asia Cup 2026: Esha Oza (c), Archara Supriya, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Janani Thirukkumaran, Lavanya Keny, Mehul Kulkarni, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish, Uttara Iyer, Vaishnave Mahesh
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
