UAE Women's Cricket Team Achieves Significant Progress by Participating in Three Asian Cups

Women from the United Arab Emirates shape the history of the UAE in numerous ways—from working in control centers that secure the country's future, to participating in sports arenas, laboratories, business, and creative spaces. Some are opening new horizons, while others continue traditions, establish institutions, serve their communities, or achieve success in fields where their stories are rarely told.

Over the next two months, Khaleej Times will present these stories through the return of its special editorial series, 'By Emirati Women, For Emirati Women.' This series has been entirely developed, covered, and written by Emirati women themselves in their own editorial capacity.

The core idea of the project is that Emirati women are best positioned to tell their own stories. The series launches during the celebration of Emirati Women's Day in the UAE, which in 2026 is themed 'We are becoming stronger and better,' as declared by Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation.

This theme emphasizes how far Emirati women have advanced while maintaining a focus on the future, where their ambitions, ideas, and leadership will continue to define the nation's development. This year's celebration holds added significance: Sheikha Fatima announced that the traditional event on August 28th will be expanded into a month-long program of initiatives and recognition, focusing on actions, gratitude, and highlighting women whose journeys reflect contributions to the development of the UAE.

This forward-thinking spirit will permeate the Khaleej Times series. Readers will meet Emirati women working in nuclear energy and civil defense, athletes contributing to the country's sporting aspirations, designers and creative figures reimagining culture and identity, entrepreneurs establishing local businesses, and specialists building careers in unconventional fields.

The features will include both well-known figures and women whose achievements have remained outside the public spotlight. Some stories will concern individuals who helped shape communities even before the Union was formed, while others will showcase a new generation, illustrating the direction of the UAE's future. Through on-the-ground reports, candid conversations, and personal narratives, the series will look deeper than just titles and milestones, focusing on the people behind them: the families that supported them, the mentors who opened doors, the challenges they overcame, the traditions they uphold, and the sense of national purpose driving their aspirations.

This project is a continuation of Khaleej Times' first season on UAE women, but it now covers a broader range of topics and pays even greater attention to the women shaping our country. Khaleej Times journalists Ruqaiya Al Kaidi, Azza Al Ali, Arwa Al Mazrouei, and Amal Al Hashemi are making this project personal.

Over the next two months, they will seek out both recognized and lesser-known pioneers who opened doors, and young women currently passing through them. Because these are not just stories about Emirati women; they are stories of the UAE itself: where the country came from, who is helping build it today, and what women will help determine its future path.

Over the past year, Emirati women have reached new heights, overcome barriers, and left their mark in various fields both domestically and internationally. In connection with the launch of the Khaleej Times series 'By Emirati Women, For Emirati Women,' the publication's team selected the names of women whose achievements and milestones over the last twelve months were particularly noteworthy, reflecting the breadth of their contribution to the progress of the UAE.

Ahead of the Women's T20 Asia Cup 2026, which will be held in Dubai from August 28 to September 13, Pakistan's captain Fatima Sana stated that her team is preparing for the major tournament by playing against a local men's team in Lahore.

Pakistan, a two-time finalist, is making every effort to win the long-awaited trophy. The question arises: do training sessions against juniors truly contribute to improving the women's cricket team's results?

Chaya Mughal, who arrived in Dubai in 2010 as a teacher and later headed the UAE national women's cricket team, believes that competing with stronger and faster juniors can significantly raise the level of play.

Mughal noted that one of the main reasons for the impressive growth of women's cricket in the UAE was the decision by the country's cricket council to allow the women's team to hold practice matches against men. Mughal, who previously played local cricket in India before moving to the UAE, told Khaleej Times in 2021 that playing against juniors helped the women's team prepare for more complex international challenges.

"Despite Covid, thanks to the ECB (Emirates Cricket Board), we had many matches to play, especially playing with boys, under-16 juniors; this gave us huge confidence and match scenarios and practice that we were waiting for," Mughal said in Khaleej Times ahead of the 2021 Asia Cup qualifiers.

Thanks to this, the UAE qualified for the Asia Cup in 2022 for the first time, which was a huge achievement for a country that did not have a women's cricket ecosystem until 2010. Two years later, in 2024, they qualified for the Asia Cup again. Now, having qualified for the 2026 Asia Cup, the UAE will host the main tournament, with the Dubai International Stadium selected as the venue for the continental event.

Players such as Esha Oza, current UAE captain, Tirta Satish, Induja Nandakumar, Samaira Dharndharkar, Siya Gokhale, and Vaishnave Mahesh have gained invaluable experience playing against men's teams with good fast bowlers. Mughal, who is now a women's cricket development officer in the UAE, explained: "We wanted to practice, and we lacked girls for training among us. So we decided to play with under-16 juniors. We played many matches and defeated them repeatedly."

She added: "We gained the confidence to play against these fast bowlers because the guys have power; everyone knows how hard they hit and how fast they bowl. So it was very good for us."

Nevertheless, there remains a significant gap between an associate team like the UAE and a traditional cricket nation like Pakistan. For the UAE, which struggled to form an 11-player squad about 15 years ago, every practice match is an opportunity to become more competitive and qualify for major events like the Asia Cup. For Pakistan, the task is to win tournaments like the Asia Cup.

After practice matches against the men's team from the Abdul Qadir Cricket Academy in Lahore, Pakistan's captain Fatima is confident that her team will play strongly and win the Asia Cup for the first time in its history. Fatima stated: "We are well prepared for the tournament. We played in competitive matches against juniors where we faced pressure. This knowledge will help us adapt to the challenges of competition."

In Fatima's opinion, the biggest advantage of playing against juniors is that it helps prepare for crucial moments in a match. She emphasized: "We needed to understand how best to handle pressure, and this is always highlighted during major tournaments. These matches helped us in that regard, and the difference will be visible."

Fatima also noted the importance of maintaining composure in tense situations instead of panicking: "We told the girls to stay calm in critical moments, remain in control, trust their hard work, and execute the plans."

Fans eagerly await whether Pakistan can handle the pressure, especially when facing arch-rival India, the Asian powerhouse, in a big showdown on September 5. Playing against juniors is one of the key factors in the UAE's qualification for three consecutive Asia Cups. Can the same strategy help Pakistan win its first continental title?