UAE Captain Waseem Breaks Rohit Sharma’s T20I Records

Sharjah, September 2, 2025: In an exciting display of power-hitting and skill, United Arab Emirates (UAE) captain Muhammad Waseem achieved two major milestones, surpassing Indian star Rohit Sharma, during the fourth match of the T20I tri-series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. This series also involves Pakistan and Afghanistan and serves as preparation for the Asia Cup 2025.

UAE’s Chase Against Afghanistan

Chasing a target of 189 runs set by Afghanistan, the UAE faced early trouble when Muhammad Zohaib, one of their opening batsmen, was dismissed for just 7 runs. However, Muhammad Waseem quickly steadied the innings and provided the team with a strong foundation.

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Waseem partnered with Ethan DSouza for a second-wicket stand worth 61 runs. This partnership was crucial in keeping UAE in the game, as the team lost an early wicket. Throughout his innings, Waseem showcased his aggressive yet calculated style of batting, hitting boundaries and sixes at regular intervals to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Breaking the Record for Most Sixes as Captain

One of the most significant moments of the game came in the third over, when Waseem hit Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman for two consecutive sixes. With these shots, Waseem became the T20I captain with the most sixes in international cricket, surpassing India’s Rohit Sharma.

As of now, Waseem leads the list with 106 sixes as captain, followed closely by Rohit Sharma with 105 and former England captain Eoin Morgan with 86. It is important to note that Rohit had already retired from the T20I format, making Waseem’s record even more notable in modern cricket.

In overall T20I career sixes (not just as captain), Rohit Sharma still leads with 205, while Waseem has scored 174 sixes in total.

Second Record: Fastest 50 as T20I Captain

The second record for Waseem came in the seventh over of the UAE innings. Waseem reached his half-century in just 25 balls, marking his 17th fifty-plus score as a captain in T20Is. With this achievement, he surpassed both Rohit Sharma and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, who each had 16 half-centuries as captains.

Here is a comparison of top T20I captains for 50-plus scores:

And the top T20I captains for most sixes:

These records highlight Waseem’s exceptional abilities as both a leader and a batsman, showing his dominance in T20 cricket at the captain’s level.

UAE’s Performance in the Tri-Series

Despite Waseem’s brilliant individual performance, the UAE faced difficulties in the series. They lost their opening match to Pakistan and then succumbed to Afghanistan by 38 runs in the fourth game, reducing their chances of finishing in the top two.

UAE still has one more match each against Afghanistan and Pakistan before the final scheduled for September 7, 2025. These games are crucial for team morale and will determine which teams advance to the final of the tri-series.

Importance of the Series

The tri-series is not just a competition; it is part of the preparations for the Asia Cup 2025. Teams like UAE, Pakistan, and Afghanistan are using this series to fine-tune their strategies, test young talent, and provide match practice to key players ahead of the continental tournament.

For the UAE, Muhammad Waseem’s performance is a major positive. Even though the team has not yet performed consistently, Waseem’s leadership and batting prowess provide a solid base for the future. Young players in the UAE squad are looking up to him as an example of skill, determination, and consistency at the international level.

Highlighting Waseem’s Leadership

Muhammad Waseem’s records are not just about personal milestones—they also reflect his ability to inspire and lead a relatively young cricketing nation like the UAE. As a captain, maintaining composure under pressure and consistently contributing with the bat makes Waseem one of the most reliable T20I leaders in modern cricket.

He has shown that even teams outside the traditional cricket powerhouses can produce world-class talent capable of breaking long-standing records. This is encouraging for associate nations and highlights the global growth of cricket.

To summarize, Muhammad Waseem’s performance against Afghanistan was historic for UAE cricket. By surpassing Rohit Sharma for most sixes as a captain and registering his 17th fifty-plus score, Waseem has cemented his place among the elite T20I captains.

Even though the UAE team has faced defeats in the series so far, Waseem’s records and leadership give hope for upcoming matches in the tri-series and the Asia Cup 2025. Cricket fans in the UAE and across the world will surely keep an eye on this talented captain as he continues to break records and inspire the next generation of cricketers.