UAE pull off tournament’s biggest upset with seven-wicket win over India A.
Dubai: On 13 February, the UAE women’s cricket team kicked off their campaign at the Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, taking on a strong India A women’s cricket team side. Few anticipated the UAE posing a serious challenge against a team featuring Indian internationals and Women’s Premier League stars, but the match became one of the most memorable moments in the history of the nation’s women’s cricket.
Led by captain Esha Oza, who scored a composed 72 not out, the UAE stunned the tournament favourites with an impressive seven-wicket victory.
“It was a great win for us,” Oza said, acknowledging that the significance of the result took time to sink in. “Securing our first win of the tournament against India A, a team featuring several Indian national players and WPL stars, was a fantastic effort by the girls. Everyone delivered a strong performance.”
She praised the team’s resilience as a key highlight. “The character the girls showed against top-quality opponents is something I’m really proud of. The conditions weren’t easy — it was extremely hot. We went from pleasant weather in Dubai to much hotter conditions in Thailand. But we fought hard and stayed committed on the field.”
The UAE built on their opening victory with another strong performance, beating Nepal by 18 runs. Oza once again led the charge, scoring a remarkable 125 off just 63 balls. However, their hopes of reaching the final were ended by a nine-wicket defeat to Pakistan in a low-scoring match, which also affected their net run rate.
Despite finishing level on four points with India and Pakistan, the UAE placed third in the standings. India went on to claim the title, defeating Bangladesh in the final.
While disappointed to miss out on the final, Esha Oza remained positive about the team’s overall performance. “It was an amazing tournament with many positives for us. It’s disappointing that we didn’t make the final — we didn’t play our best cricket when it mattered most. But I’m very proud of what we achieved as a group during that week in Thailand.”
Reflecting on her personal form, Oza said she was satisfied but wished she could have done more in the crucial final group match. “I’m happy with how I performed in the two wins, but I would have been even happier if I could have helped the team qualify in the last game as well. We had two great days on the field but couldn’t replicate that against Pakistan. There are things to work on, and hopefully we’ll cross the line next time.”
Looking ahead, Esha Oza stressed the value of increased match exposure, highlighting tournaments like the ILT20 in the UAE as examples of how competitive leagues can raise standards.
“More match exposure would definitely help our team improve. We’ve seen what the ILT20 has done for the men’s team — it has helped groom and identify new talent. Sharing the field with top-quality players and learning from them would greatly benefit our national team. That kind of experience could really transform UAE women’s cricket,” she said.
The team’s next challenge is the ACC Premier Cup, a qualifying tournament for the upcoming Women’s Asia Cup and next year’s Rising Stars Asia Cup.
“We play that at the end of next month, so our focus now is on preparation,” Oza added. “There were many positives, but also areas we need to improve — especially our fielding and overall consistency. We weren’t able to win the last game and progress, which was disappointing. But we’ll regroup, work hard, and aim to come back stronger in the coming years.”
