UAE Sets T20I Record by Retiring All 10 Batters
UAE women retire all batters after record stand to counter rain and crush Qatar in Asia Qualifier
UAE Women Make History by Retiring All 10 Batters in Landmark T20I Strategy Against Qatar
BANGKOK, May 11 – In a groundbreaking moment for international cricket, the UAE women’s cricket team became the first in T20I history to retire all 10 of their batters voluntarily during a matchDuring their match versus Qatar at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Region Qualifier 2025, the uncommon tactical choice was made.
In just 16 overs, UAE openers Esha Oza and Theertha Satish led their team to an undefeated opening partnership of 192 runs thanks to a spectacular batting showing. Oza dazzled with a spectacular 113 off 55 balls, including 14 boundaries and five sixes, while Satish contributed a brisk 74 from 42 balls.
Despite having four overs left in the innings and no wickets down, the UAE took the extraordinary step of ending their innings. Since formal declarations are not allowed in limited-overs formats, each of the ten batters, including those yet to take the crease, retired themselves out — an unprecedented move in international cricket.
The UAE head coach and former international cricketer Ahmed Raza made this strategic choice. The UAE team decided to speed up the game due to the threat of weather-related cancellations and approaching rain clouds.. They decided to bowl immediately in the hopes of forcing a result before any rain intervention, confident that their 192-run total would be more than sufficient.
Qatar’s response was short-lived and underwhelming, as they were skittled out for just 29 runs in 11.1 overs. Only three batters managed to register runs, with Rizpha Bano Emmanuel scoring 20 of those — the bulk of her team’s total.
The match also witnessed a T20I record with 15 players registering ducks — the most in the history of women’s T20 Internationals.
This historic and strategic encounter demonstrates how cricket strategies are changing, especially when games are threatened by rain and time and net run rate become crucial factors. In addition to setting a new record, the UAE’s decisive victory increased their chances of qualifying for the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the ongoing Asia Region Qualifier.
