Abu Dhabi: UAE captain Muhammad Waseem etched his name in history on Monday, becoming the first player from his country—and the 11th overall—to surpass 3,000 runs in T20I cricket.
Waseem reached the milestone during the Asia Cup clash against Oman in Abu Dhabi. Coming off a disappointing batting performance against India, he delivered a stellar innings, scoring 69 runs off 54 balls, including six fours and three sixes, at a strike rate of 127.77.
The top three T20I run-scorers remain: India’s Rohit Sharma (4,231 runs in 159 matches, average 32.05, strike rate 140.89, five centuries, 32 fifties), Pakistan’s Babar Azam (4,223 runs in 128 matches, average 39.83, strike rate 129.22, three centuries, 36 fifties), and Virat Kohli (4,188 runs in 125 matches, average 48.69, one century, 38 fifties).
In 84 T20Is, Waseem has accumulated 3,010 runs at an average of 38.10 and a strike rate of 154.12, including three centuries and 24 fifties, with a highest score of 112. He ranks as the 11th-highest run-scorer in T20Is and is the third-fastest to reach the 3,000-run mark, behind Pakistan’s Mohammed Rizwan (79 innings) and both Virat Kohli and Babar Azam (81 innings each).
In the match, Oman won the toss and opted to field first.
UAE got off to a strong start with an 88-run opening partnership between Alishan Sharafu (51 off 38 balls, seven fours, one six) and Waseem. Waseem then added a 49-run stand with Muhammad Zohaib (21 off 13 balls, two fours, one six), followed by a quickfire cameo from Harshit Kaushik (19* off seven balls, one four, two sixes), guiding UAE to 172/5 in 20 overs.
Jiten Ramanandi (2/24) was Oman’s standout bowler. UAE must win this match to keep their Super 4 hopes alive, while Oman, having lost both of their previous games, are already out of contention.
