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Bangladesh have suffered a humiliating T20 series defeat, a seven-wicket thrashing at the hands of the United Arab Emirates in the series decider in Sharjah—a result that once seemed beyond the realm of imagination.
What was supposed to be a routine series turned into a nightmare on Wednesday as UAE clinched the series 2–1.
Needing 53 runs off the last five overs, UAE's Alishan Sharafu skied a Rishad Hossain delivery that should have been taken, but Tanzid Hasan spilled it over the boundary for six. That moment proved pivotal.
Given a life, Sharafu and Asif Khan clinically dismantled the Tigers' hopes with an unbroken 87-run stand off 51 balls.
Losing a series to UAE, ranked 15th in the T20I standings and fielding a side with several newcomers, marks a new low for Bangladesh, according to a bdnews24.com report.
It was only the second T20I series win for UAE over a Test-playing nation, the first coming against Ireland in 2021.
At one point, Bangladesh had collapsed to 84 for 8, but a late fightback saw them post 162, thanks to record partnerships for the ninth and tenth wickets. However, the total proved insufficient as the hosts chased it down with five balls to spare.
BATTING COLLAPSE
Having lost the toss again, Bangladesh were sent in to bat on the same pitch used for the first two games.
Tanzid got off to a flier, striking a four and a six in the opening over off debutant Akif Raja. But the momentum was short-lived.
Parvez Hossain Emon, returning after sitting out the previous game despite a century in the opener, was dismissed for a golden duck, caught on the boundary trying to take on Dhruba Parashar.
Skipper Litton Das followed with a four and a six but fell lbw to left-arm spinner Haider Ali for 14.
One ball later, Towhid Hridoy departed for a duck in the same over. Haider, making his series debut, finished the powerplay with a double-wicket maiden.
Sheikh Mehedi Hasan, batting at five, managed just 2 off 9 balls.
But Tanzid carried on with aggressive intent, smashing two sixes and a four in one over off Dhruba, taking his score to 42 off 14 by the end of the powerplay. The rest of the batting lineup had managed only 14 runs off 22 balls.
His innings ended soon after on 40 from 18, bowled by Akif who came around the wicket to change the angle.
Matiullah Khan then removed Shamim Hossain (9) and Rishad Hossain (0) in the same over.
At 71 for 7 after 11 overs, Bangladesh were staring down the barrel.
Tanzim Hasan Sakib attempted a late surge but was dismissed for 6, leaving Bangladesh tottering. But just when it looked like the innings would fold below 100, Jakir Ali arrived with intent.
He hammered a six first ball and battled through cramps to forge a vital 44-run partnership with Hasan Mahmud in 26 balls—the highest ninth-wicket stand for Bangladesh in T20Is, eclipsing the previous record of 33.
Jaker scored 41 off 34 balls with 3 sixes before falling at 122.
But Mahmud and Shoriful Islam took the assault further. Shoriful struck a hook for six as UAE's bowlers lost their line and length.
In a chaotic final over bowled by UAE captain Muhammad Waseem, Hasan hit two sixes while Shoriful added a four. Waseem couldn't even complete the over, conceding two beamers and being replaced by Sharafu. That over alone yielded 26 runs; the final four overs produced 64.
Hasan and Shoriful’s 34-run partnership came off just 12 balls, setting another Bangladesh record for the 10th wicket in T20Is.
Haider Ali, the pick of the UAE bowlers, took 3 for 7 from 4 overs, tormenting Bangladesh’s left-handers with sharp spin.
CLINICAL CHASE
With the bat, UAE needed to remove Bangladesh’s momentum quickly, and they did just that.
Star performer Waseem, who scored 52 and 82 in the first two games, was dismissed early for 9 by Shoriful.
But there was no collapse. Zohaib Khan and Sharafu steadied the chase with a 44-run stand. Zohaib smashed back-to-back sixes off Hasan Mahmud, helping UAE reach 50 inside the powerplay.
Rishad broke the partnership in his first over, bowling Zohaib for 29 off 23. Rahul Chopra struggled for rhythm but Sharafu continued to anchor the innings.
Asif started slowly but unleashed his power game at the death.
At one point, Rishad had kept things tight with just 13 runs conceded in his first three overs. But the turning point came in the 16th over when Tanzid dropped Sharafu—who sent it for six. Asif followed up with two more sixes in that same over.
Both batsmen rotated the strike and punished anything loose. Asif sealed the game with back-to-back sixes off Tanzim in the penultimate over, before Sharafu hit the winning boundary off the first ball of the final over.
He remained unbeaten on 68 off 47 (5 fours, 3 sixes), while Asif finished with 41 off 26 balls—no fours, five sixes.
As soon as the winning run was scored, UAE’s players erupted in celebration and later lifted the trophy on what was perhaps the most memorable night in the country's cricket history.
Brief Scores:
Bangladesh: 162/9 in 20 overs (Tanzid 40, Jakir 41, Haider 3-7)
UAE: 166/3 in 19.1 overs (Alishan 68*, Asif 41*)
Result: UAE won by 7 wickets
Series: UAE won the 3-match series 2–1
Player of the Match: Alishan Sharafu
Player of the Series: Muhammad Waseem