The United Arab Emirates (UAE) have taken a bizarre step in the Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifiers 2025. On Saturday, May 10, the UAE retired out their entire team in their clash against Qatar at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok.

After opting to bat first, UAE made a stupendous start courtesy of their openers Theertha Satish and skipper Esha Rohit Oza. The duo put on a partnership of 192 runs for the opening wicket in 16 overs to put the Qatar bowlers under pressure.

But after sensing that there was a chance of rain, the UAE retired out their entire team. Since declaration is not applicable in T20Is, each batter padded up, raced to the crease and retired out when they got to the ground.

UAE thump Qatar

The score was enough as UAE won the match by 163 runs after bowling Qatar out for 29 in 11.1 overs. Skipper Esha stepped up, scoring 113 runs off 55 balls with the help of 14 fours and five sixes. Satish lent her support, hitting 11 fours in her 42-ball knock of 74.

Esha also finished with figures of 1-0-1-1 and won the Player of the Match award. Left-arm spinner Michelle Botha was the pick of the bowlers after she picked up three wickets for 11 runs in his quota of four overs.

Katie Thompson took two wickets while Esha, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar and Vaishnave Mahesh accounted for one scalp apiece.

With the win, UAE went to the top of the table in the tournament with four points and a net run rate of +6.998 thanks to wins in both their matches.

UAE began with a nine-wicket win over Malaysia before taking down Qatar. Their next match is against Malaysia on May 13 at the same venue in Bangkok.