Nahyan Bin Mubarak Congratulates UAE Cricket Team On ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Qualification

The UAE's cricket team has secured a spot in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after defeating Japan by eight wickets in the final Super Six match of the Asia & EAP Qualifier in Muscat. This victory brought their total points to six, including two wins from four matches and two points from a previous group-stage win against Qatar.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), expressed his pride in the team's achievement. "I am pleased to extend my congratulations to our national team and the technical and administrative staff on this proud achievement in Muscat," he stated. The UAE's cricket journey continues to progress steadily, with this year marking significant milestones, including an impressive Asia Cup appearance.

The upcoming tournament will be held in India and Sri Lanka during February–March 2026. This marks the UAE's third appearance at the global T20 event, having previously participated in 2014 in Bangladesh and 2022 in Australia. Sheikh Nahyan highlighted that under President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's leadership, youth and sports remain national priorities, enhancing the UAE’s global sporting reputation.

Sheikh Nahyan emphasised that these achievements showcase the UAE as a hub of excellence, nurturing talent and promoting teamwork, tolerance, and coexistence. He added that the Emirates Cricket Board is committed to providing top-notch training facilities and preparation programmes for players. "We will continue to invest in developing our national team and its upcoming plans to guarantee the highest levels of readiness for this world event," he said.

The ECB is set to announce a comprehensive preparation programme for the team’s next phase. This includes domestic and overseas camps along with warm-up matches to ensure optimal readiness for the tournament. Sheikh Nahyan expressed confidence that the players will compete strongly against top international teams, delivering performances that reflect well on the UAE.

"I am confident our players will compete strongly against the world’s best and deliver performances worthy of the UAE and its people," Sheikh Nahyan remarked. The nation eagerly anticipates their participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, hoping for continued success on this prestigious platform.

With inputs from WAM