Fifties from Aryansh, Sohaib fashion UAE five-wicket win over Canada at T20 World Cup

Published
UAE’s Aryansh Sharma (R) celebrates with teammates his team’s win at the end of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Canada and United Arab Emirates at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on February 13, 2026. — AFP
UAE’s Aryansh Sharma (R) celebrates with teammates his team’s win at the end of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Canada and United Arab Emirates at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on February 13, 2026. — AFP

United Arab Emirates (UAE) registered their first win of the T20 World Cup after half-centuries by Aryansh Sharma and Sohaib Khan secured a five-wicket victory over Canada in a Group D match at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday.

Chasing 151 for victory, UAE slumped to 66-4 in the 13th over before a rapid 84-run stand between Aryansh and Sohaib set up their win with two balls to spare.

Aryansh made 74 not out, while Sohaib produced a 29-ball blitz of 51.

After electing to bat, Canada posted a competitive 150-7 with Harsh Thaker (50) and Navneet Dhaliwal (34) contributing useful runs.

UAE seamer Junaid Siddique claimed five of Canada’s seven wickets, conceding 35 runs in his four overs.

Left-arm spinner Saad Bin Zafar wrecked UAE’s top order, claiming the wickets of Alishan Sharafu, Mayank Kumar and Harshit Kaushik to put Canada on top, but Aryansh proved immovable and brought up his fifty off 41 balls.

Sohaib, who hit four sixes, put UAE’s chase back on track with a 28-ball fifty before falling in the final over.

UAE leapfrogged Afghanistan into third place in the group — behind New Zealand and South Africa, who are level on four points from two matches.

Opinion

Editorial

Rampant lawlessness
Updated 25 Jul, 2026

Rampant lawlessness

THE brutal slaying of a judge and his guard in Mastung is the latest in a series of blood-drenched events that have...
Daily fuel pricing
25 Jul, 2026

Daily fuel pricing

THE government’s move to daily petroleum price adjustments should make fuel pricing more transparent and more...
The drug problem
25 Jul, 2026

The drug problem

WHILE Islamabad Police chase low-level peddlers, the capital’s kingpins have quietly taken their operations ...
A new chokepoint
Updated 24 Jul, 2026

A new chokepoint

WITH free transit of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz blocked due to the US-Iran conflict, a new chokepoint has...
Improved rating
24 Jul, 2026

Improved rating

S&P GLOBAL’S decision to upgrade Pakistan’s long-term sovereign credit rating to ‘B’ with a stable...
More firetraps
24 Jul, 2026

More firetraps

WHILE it was already apparent that death traps dot Karachi, a safety audit by the Sindh government has thrown up...