In a jaw-dropping turn of events during the 2025 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier in Thailand, the UAE Women’s team rewrote cricket history by retiring out all 10 of their batters voluntarily after a record opening stand, in a tactical move that helped secure a massive 163-run win over Qatar.
UAE Women's cricket team stuns cricketing world
Opening the batting, skipper Esha Oza smashed an unbeaten 113 while Theertha Satish contributed 74*, powering UAE to 192/0 in just 16 overs. Then, in an unprecedented act, every other player walked in and retired out as per team strategy, ending the innings at 192/10 without losing a single conventional wicket.
The bold move was driven by weather concerns, as rain threatened to derail UAE’s campaign. The decision to force a quicker transition to the second innings worked perfectly. UAE bowled out Qatar for a mere 29 runs in 11.1 overs, thanks to a sharp spell by Michelle Botha (3/11) and Katie Thompson (2 wickets).
Only three batters managed to score, with Rizpha Bano Emmanuel accounting for nearly all of Qatar’s runs with a knock of 20 from 29 balls. The game also set a new Women’s T20I record with 15 ducks, as Qatar’s batters failed to withstand the pressure.
UAE now tops the points table with two wins in two games. The 2025 ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier, hosted by Thailand, is a key event in the qualification process for the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup. The top two teams will secure their spots in the global qualifier.
