Bangladesh cricket reach new low as UAE seal T20 series win
In what was initially a two-match series, a third T20I was later added—one that proved decisive as the UAE dominated with both bat and ball.
Bangladesh cricket reached a new low on Wednesday evening as they suffered a humiliating T20I series defeat to the United Arab Emirates, losing the third and final match by seven wickets in Sharjah. This marked the Tigers' second T20I series loss to an associate nation, following last year's debacle against the USA.
In what was initially a two-match series, a third T20I was later added—one that proved decisive as the UAE dominated with both bat and ball. Alishan Sharafu (65*) and Asif Khan (45*) steered the hosts to a comfortable victory with five balls to spare, easily chasing down Bangladesh's modest target of 163.
After winning the opening match by 27 runs, Bangladesh had already shown signs of fragility in a narrow two-wicket defeat in the second encounter. But their performance in the series decider confirmed a worrying decline, with the UAE clearly the superior side across all departments.
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Opting to bat first, Bangladesh crumbled to 84-8 inside 14 overs, undone by a disciplined and inspired Emirati bowling attack. Only a late partnership between Jaker Ali Anik and Hasan Mahmud spared further embarrassment. Jaker scored a crucial 41 off 34 balls, while Mahmud chipped in with 26 not out off 15 deliveries. Shoriful Islam added an unbeaten 16 from just seven balls to push Bangladesh to 162-9, thanks in large part to a 26-run final over.
However, even that surge proved insufficient. UAE's bowlers had earlier rattled the visitors, with off-spinner Dhruv Parashar striking early to dismiss Parvez Hossain Emon for a golden duck. Left-arm spinner Haider Ali delivered a remarkable spell, taking 3-7 from four overs, including the key wickets of Liton Das, Towhid Hridoy, and Mahedi Hasan. Pacer Raja Akif Ullah Khan clean-bowled Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who had been looking fluent with a 40 off 18 balls, as Bangladesh's top order collapsed in disarray.
Matiullah Khan and Saghir Khan also picked up two wickets each as the Tigers lurched towards another ignominious defeat.
In reply, UAE looked untroubled throughout the chase. Sharafu's assured knock and Khan's composed support underlined the gulf in confidence and execution between the sides. Bangladesh's bowlers—Shoriful, Tanzim Sakib, and Rishad Hossain—managed a wicket apiece, but lacked the penetration or control to seriously threaten the hosts.
Bangladesh's inability to adapt, lack of intensity, and repeated middle-order collapses were glaring. The series defeat to UAE comes just a year after they lost 2-1 to the USA ahead of the T20 World Cup—a clear signal that all is not well in the camp.
While the UAE celebrated a landmark series win, questions will now be asked of the Bangladesh setup, from selection to strategy. With the T20 World Cup looming, the Tigers must urgently reassess their direction, or risk further embarrassment on the global stage.
