Muhammad Waseem's blazing T20I half-century against Afghanistan goes in vain
02 Sep 2025

UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem's blazing T20I half-century against Afghanistan went in vain at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Waseem was the lone warrior in UAE's run-chase of 189 in the T20I Tri-Series encounter.

Although Rahul Chopra also had a late flourish, he couldn't make up for the lower-order collapse.

The duo contributed 119 runs to UAE's total of 150/8. The hosts fell 38 runs short.

How UAE's chase panned out
Chase

Despite a positive start, UAE lost Muhammad Zohaib early on.

However, Waseem single-handedly took on the Afghanistan bowling attack, adding 61 runs with Ethan DSouza.

With Waseem's exploits, UAE touched the 90-run mark in the 10th over. However, he fell to Sharafuddin Ashraf.

Ashraf and Rashid Khan brought UAE down to 112/7 thereafter. Although Rahul Chopra scored 52*, they fell short.

Waseem slams his 23rd T20I fifty
Half-century

As mentioned, Waseem was UAE's only fighter in the first half.

He slammed a blistering 67 off 37 balls, a knock laced with 4 fours and 6 sixes.

In 80 T20Is, the UAE skipper has raced to 2,859 runs at a strike rate of 156.31 (Average: 38.12). His tally includes 3 tons and 23 half-centuries.

No other UAE batter has even 1,300 T20I runs.

Notable feat for Waseem
Feat

During his stay, Waseem unlocked a massive achievement in T20I cricket.

He now has the second-most sixes in the format (176), going past New Zealand's Martin Guptill (173).

Waseem is only behind former Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who bid adieu to the format with a record 205 sixes.

As of now, England's Jos Buttler is the only other player with 150-plus T20I sixes.

How Rahul completed his half-century
Fact

Like Waseem, Rahul could control the game from one end in the second half. He smacked 2 fours and a six in the final over to complete his half-century, his fourth in the format. Rahul, who scored a 35-ball 52*, raced to 593 T20I runs.