Why did UAE retire all 10 batters in T20 WC Asia qualifier? Head coach Ahmed Raza breaks silence

In a very unprecedented transfer that’s now being described as a ‘tactical revolution,’ in white-ball cricket, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ladies’s cricket group pulled off one of many strangest but smartest acts in T20 historical past. Competing within the ICC Ladies’s T20 World Cup 2026 Asia Qualifier towards Qatar, the UAE ladies made world headlines by retiring out all ten of their batters, a call made not out of damage or necessity, however as a part of a deliberate and calculated technique to make sure a win amid an approaching storm.

Esha Oza and Theertha Satish domination halted by a sudden cease

The match started like another, however quickly became an exhibition of batting supremacy. UAE’s openers, Esha Oza and Theertha Satish, took management from the very first supply. Combining aggression with finesse, the pair added 192 runs in simply 16 overs, taking full benefit of the Qatar bowling assault and the quick outfield at Terdthai Cricket Floor.

Esha, the group’s captain and standout performer, scored a wide ranging 113 runs off simply 55 deliveries, a knock laced with boundaries, clever placement, and clear hitting. Her accomplice, wicketkeeper-batter Theertha Satish, was equally impactful with a fluent 74 from 42 balls, complementing Oza stroke-for-stroke. Because the scoreboard soared previous 190 and the run price climbed above 12 an over, everybody anticipated a ultimate assault within the dying overs. However what adopted left the cricketing world shocked.

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UAE head coach Ahmed Raza explains 10 batters retired in a single match

Within the post-match briefing, UAE head coach Ahmed Raza make clear what transpired behind the scenes. As thunder rumbled and drizzle started to fall throughout their innings, Raza feared a weather-forced abandonment. A washout might have robbed UAE of a full match, doubtlessly leaving factors shared or the consequence determined by way of DLS.

“While the innings was occurring, we began listening to thunder and a slight drizzle had began. I went to the umpires and checked whether or not we might declare, however in white-ball cricket, you can not declare. So I requested the match referee if I might retire my complete group out,” Raza was quoted as saying by the Sports activities Tak.

The permission was granted, and the UAE teaching workers acted swiftly. Their purpose: to make sure an entire bowling innings could possibly be performed earlier than rain arrived, thereby locking in a consequence. Given the weird nature of the tactic, some observers questioned whether or not the transfer was disrespectful to the Qatari aspect. Raza was fast to dismiss these considerations. He additionally burdened that all the pieces was carried out inside the legal guidelines of cricket, and with full communication to match officers.

“Initially of our bowling innings it was already drizzling, and we have been frightened of the thunderstorm. There was not sufficient time, and it was all carried out purely to get a consequence. By doing this, I meant no disrespect to anybody concerned, our opposition, the officers, or the sport,” Raza concluded.

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This text was first revealed at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Occasions firm.