United Arab Emirates cricket captain Muhammad Waseem etched his name into the record books with a stunning milestone during the Asia Cup 2025 group-stage clash against Oman. While leading his side from the front, the powerful right-hander crossed 3,000 career runs in T20 internationals, becoming the fastest batter in terms of balls faced to achieve the landmark. His knock of 69 from 54 balls was filled with authority, balance and some calculated risks.
He struck six boundaries and three towering sixes, guiding UAE to a strong total before an unfortunate mix-up saw him run out in the final over.
Muhammad Waseem reached the milestone in just 1,947 balls, breaking past England’s Jos Buttler who had needed 121 more deliveries. The list of other notable names trailing behind him includes Aaron Finch, David Warner and Rohit Sharma, all world-class performers.
In terms of innings, Muhammad Waseem sits fourth overall, having reached the landmark in 84 outings. Only Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam and Virat Kohli have managed the feat quicker, which highlights how impressive this achievement is for a player from an associate nation. Adding further weight to his accomplishment, Muhammad Waseem became only the second cricketer from an associate country to score more than 3,000 runs in T20Is, joining Malaysia’s Virandeep Singh.
What makes his record even more remarkable is the limited exposure UAE players get against full-member teams. The side often faces only associate-level competition, yet Muhammad Waseem’s consistency has allowed him to keep pace with cricket’s finest. His milestone will likely be remembered for years as a proud moment for UAE cricket, proving that talent can shine even without regular opportunities against the world’s biggest teams.
In the same match, Muhammad Waseem’s effort, along with a brisk half-century from opener Alishan Sharafu, powered UAE to 172 for five. After a cautious start, Alishan Sharafu found his rhythm, scoring 51 off 38 deliveries. The duo’s aggressive intent during the powerplay set the platform, with UAE racing to 50 runs inside the first six overs. Their partnership put Oman under early pressure and ensured UAE maintained a strong run rate despite a few stumbles in the middle overs.
Oman, however, found some control through their bowlers. Left-arm pacer Jiten Ramanandi delivered the standout spell, claiming two wickets for 24 runs in his four overs. His tight lines slowed UAE’s progress during the middle stages, while Shakeel Ahmed also kept things quiet with disciplined bowling. Yet, the foundation laid by the top order meant UAE were able to post a competitive total.
In response, Oman fell short by 42 runs in chasing the target as the whole team got out at the score of 130 in 18.4 overs.
Congratulations Muhammad Waseem!
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