UAE vs Bangladesh 1st T20I Match Preview – May 17, 2025

Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025
Time: 16:00 GMT / 08:30 PM IST
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, UAE
Format: T20I
Series: Bangladesh Tour of UAE 2025 (2-match T20I Series)

Match Snapshot

The first of a two-match T20I series between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bangladesh is set to take place at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on May 17, 2025. This match marks a significant encounter for the UAE, who are striving to make a mark on home soil, and for Bangladesh, who are on a tour to continue building momentum after recent campaigns.

With a rich history of competitive cricket at the venue, and a pitch traditionally favoring the batting first side, this match promises to be a thrilling contest.

Team Form & Rankings

United Arab Emirates

• ICC T20I Ranking: 15th (Rating: 179)
• Recent Form: The UAE have been in impressive form, winning 13 out of their last 14 matches, including victories over Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait in the recent Gulf T20I Championship.
• Key Players:
  • Muhammad Waseem (Captain) – Consistent with the bat and a useful all-rounder.
  • Asif Khan – Provides valuable all-round support with both bat and ball.
  • Dhruv Parashar – Strong lower-order performer and wicketkeeper.

Bangladesh

• ICC T20I Ranking: 4th (Rating: 105)
• Recent Form: Bangladesh have been in decent form, having played competitive matches in the recent past. However, they will be tested against a spirited UAE side.
• Key Players:
  • Litton Das (Captain & Wicketkeeper) – The anchor of the batting lineup.
  • Soumya Sarkar – Explosive opener with big-hitting ability.
  • Rishad Hossain – Versatile all-rounder with match-winning potential.

Head-to-Head Record (T20I)

• Total Matches: 3
• Bangladesh Wins: 3
• UAE Wins: 0
• Last Match: Bangladesh defeated UAE by 32 runs in 2022.

The UAE will be aiming to break their 100% winless record against Bangladesh in this match, while Bangladesh will look to continue their dominance in the series.

Venue & Pitch Insights

Sharjah Cricket Stadium is a well-balanced venue, with a batting-friendly pitch. The average first-innings score at the venue is around 155, and teams batting first often have an edge.

• Weather Conditions:
  • Temperature: ~28°C
  • Humidity: ~70%
  • Rain: 0% chance
• Pitch Behavior:
  • Tends to offer assistance to batters in the early overs.
  • Spin may come into play in the later stages.

Probable Playing 11

United Arab Emirates

1. Muhammad Waseem (C)
2. Alishan Sharafu
3. Asif Khan
4. Aryansh Sharma (Wk)
5. Dhruv Parashar
6. Muhammad Jawad Ullah
7. Sanchit Sharma
8. Matiullah Khan
9. Muhammad Saghir Khan
10. Haider Ali
11. Muhammad Zuhaib

Bangladesh

1. Litton Das (C, Wk)
2. Najmul Hossain Shanto
3. Soumya Sarkar
4. Mahedi Hasan
5. Rishad Hossain
6. Towhid Hridoy
7. Mustafizur Rahman
8. Shoriful Islam
9. Tanzim Hossain
10. Hasan Mahmud
11. Tanvir Islam

Key Matchups to Watch

• Muhammad Waseem vs Litton Das: A battle between the UAE captain and the Bangladeshi skipper for control of the innings.
• Asif Khan vs Mustafizur Rahman: A clash of all-rounders that could dictate the flow of the match.
• Soumya Sarkar vs UAE spinners: The Bangladeshi opener will look to exploit the UAE spinners, who are likely to play a key role in the death overs.

Prediction & Fantasy Insights

• Predicted Score: UAE: 160/6, Bangladesh: 165/4
• Winning Team: Bangladesh by 5 runs
• Top Performers:
  • Batting: Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das, Muhammad Waseem
  • Bowling: Mustafizur Rahman, Rishad Hossain, Muhammad Saghir Khan

Dream11 Captaincy Suggestions:

• Captain: Soumya Sarkar
• Vice-Captain: Litton Das

Where to Watch

• Live Telecast: Star Sports, Sports18
• Live Streaming: JioCinema, Hotstar

Conclusion

While the UAE have been in top form recently and are playing at home, Bangladesh remain the favorites based on their overall quality and head-to-head record. However, with the UAE showing signs of emerging as a competitive T20 side, this match is expected to be a closely fought contest that could set the tone for the rest of the series.

Stay tuned for a thrilling encounter at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium!
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