173 against NZ! List of UAE’s biggest totals in T20 World Cup history till February 10

Biggest UAE totals in T20 World Cup matches [Source: @EmiratesCricket/x]

The UAE cricket team overcame its recent struggles by mounting a competitive total against a strong New Zealand attack comprising of Mitchell Santner and others. The total marked UAE’s highest in a T20 World Cup match by a landslide, as Muhammad Waseem’s spirited troops go head first against the ‘Black Caps’.

Celebrating UAE’s counterattack, here is a look at some of their highest team totals in the history of T20 World Cup matches.

3. UAE 148-3 vs Namibia, ICC T20 World Cup 2022

UAE batted first and charted a competitive total of 148-3 in 20 overs against Namibia back in the Group A match of the opening round of the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Winning the toss at the GMHBA Stadium in Victoria, UAE started off with a 39-run opening partnership in eight overs.

After the fall of struggling opener Vriitya Aravind for 21 from 32 balls, UAE picked up the run-scoring pace courtesy of vintage hard-hitting top-order batter Muhammad Waseem. The cricketer top-scored in the innings, muscling 50 runs from just 41 balls with a boundary and three huge sixes.

A quick 43* from 29 balls by captain CP Rizwan, and a cracking cameo of 25* from Basil Hameed bolstered UAE’s slog-overs impetus. On the day, the UAE batting line-up took a special liking to certain Namibia bowlers, especially JJ Smit and Jan Frylinck as they safely negotiated the four-over spells of Ruben Trumpelmann, David Wiese and Bernard Scholtz.

UAE bowlers Basil Hameed (2-17), Zahoor Khan (2-20) and others complemented the batter’s efforts, restricting Namibia to just 141-8 in 20 overs in response. Notching up the second highest total by any UAE side in the history of T20 World Cup at the time, the CP Rizwan-led team won the match by seven runs.

2. UAE 151 all out vs Netherlands, T20 World Cup 2014

Winning the toss and electing to bat first at the Sylhet Stadium in Sylhet, UAE bundled out for 151 with a ball to spare in their 20-over innings. Facing Netherlands in the fourth match of the 2014 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, middle-order batter Shaiman Anwar stood up for the UAE with his sudden 19-ball 32. Captain Khurram Khan also listed 31 from 25 balls with four elegant boundaries, while Swapnil Patil and Rohan Mustafa chipped in with quick 20s.

Remarkably, the UAE team charted its 151-run total despite losing both openers within the first two overs of the match. Crossing the 150-run mark for the first time in a T20 World Cup match, the UAE team still fell short of Netherlands by six wickets and more than an over to spare.

Kamran Shazad did put up a fight, but his two wickets were rendered in vain by Netherlands opener Stephan Myburgh with his fiery half-century.

1. UAE 173-6 vs New Zealand, T20 World Cup 2026

The UAE cricket team exceeded all expectations within the opening week of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Going up against a strong New Zealand unit in match number 11 of the tournament at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, UAE won the toss and elected to bat first.

Defying the likes of Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, express paceman Lockie Ferguson, and legendary spinner Mitchell Santner; UAE charted a monumental 173-6 in 20 overs. The total marked not only UAE’s only second instance of crossing the 150-run mark in a T20 World Cup game, but also their highest-ever total at the showpiece event.

Captain Muhammad Waseem bludgeoned 66 of those runs in an unbeaten case from 45 deliveries with four boundaries and three huge sixes. Number three batter Alishan Sharafu also listed a breezy 47-ball 55, before a 21-run cameo from Mayank Kumar further contributed to UAE’s cause.