Sharjah, UAE — May 16, 2025: Bangladesh national cricket team kickstarted their two-match T20I series against the UAE national cricket team with a commanding 27-run victory at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, thanks to a breathtaking century from opener Parvez Hossain Emon and a clinical bowling performance that kept the hosts at bay.
Winning the toss, UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem opted to field first — a decision that backfired as Emon took charge from the very beginning. The left-handed opener lit up Sharjah with a stunning 100 off just 54 balls, peppering the boundaries with ease and putting the UAE bowlers under relentless pressure.
Emon’s Maiden T20I Century
This match will be remembered as a milestone in Emon’s career. Coming in with a clear intent, he reached his maiden T20I hundred with aggressive strokeplay, combining elegance with raw power. His innings featured a mix of classical cover drives and towering sixes, holding the Bangladesh innings together as wickets fell around him.
Support came in bits and pieces — Towhid Hridoy chipped in with a 20-ball 15, and Jaker Ali added a cautious 13. Bangladesh posted a challenging total of 191/7 in their 20 overs, thanks largely to Emon’s fireworks.
UAE’s Muhammad Jawad Ullah was the standout with the ball, claiming 4 wickets for 21 runs in his full quota — a rare bright spot in an otherwise expensive bowling effort. Dhruv Parashar and Muhammad Zuhaib picked up one wicket apiece.
UAE’s Spirited Chase Falls Short
In reply, UAE put up a spirited chase led by their skipper Muhammad Waseem, who scored a well-compiled 54 off 39 balls. He was ably supported by Asif Khan (42 off 21) and Rahul Chopra (35 off 22), who kept the hosts in the hunt.
However, the disciplined Bangladeshi bowling attack never allowed the UAE to accelerate freely. Hasan Mahmud starred with the ball, grabbing 3 wickets for 33 runs, while veteran left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman bowled a tight spell, finishing with 2 for 17. Tanzim Hasan Sakib also made his mark with figures of 2 for 22.
Despite some late resistance, UAE were restricted to 164/7 in their 20 overs, falling short by 27 runs.
Unsurprisingly, Parvez Hossain Emon was named Player of the Match for his blazing century, a performance that not only gave Bangladesh the edge but also showcased the youngster’s immense potential on the international stage. With this win, Bangladesh take a 1-0 lead in the two-match T20I series, setting up the second game as a potential series decider.
