Haider Ali turned to a simple method to tackle Sharjah’s notorious dew: he soaked the cricket ball in a bucket of water during practice. This approach proved crucial on Wednesday night as his stellar performance, claiming three wickets for seven runs, led the UAE to a memorable 2-1 T20I series triumph over Bangladesh.
Dew has long been a factor during nighttime matches in the UAE, although it was absent in the first two T20Is. However, it made its presence felt early in the series decider. Many bowlers struggled to maintain their grip, but Haider was ready. His experience of playing in similar conditions at Sharjah’s night matches had prepared him well. “There was dew from the first over,” Haider reflected. “I practise a lot with the wet ball to get used to such conditions. Playing domestic night games helped me adapt.”
Having made his T20I debut earlier in the series, Haider had not taken any wickets in the first two matches. However, in this decisive game, he made an impact right away. Haider dismissed Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy with his first three deliveries and then took Mahedi Hasan’s wicket in the next over, reducing Bangladesh to 49-4.
Haider’s spell was precise, aggressive, and effective, setting a competitive bowling tone for the UAE. On his change in approach, he mentioned, “After discussing with the coaches, I chose to bowl more aggressively. The dew softened the pitch, which worked in my favour. The team needed my contribution, and so I stuck to the plan.”
Notably, Haider expressed pride in taking Litton Das’s wicket, as he regarded it as a significant achievement. “He’s a major player globally,” Haider said. “We aimed to dismiss him early to stall their momentum.”
Despite Bangladesh’s recovery to end at 162-9, UAE reached the target, thanks largely to Alishan Sharafu’s unbeaten 68.
This 2-1 series win marks a significant achievement for the UAE ahead of an important year, including their participation in the Asia Cup. “The UAE cricket board and management backed us tremendously,” Haider appreciated, marking this victory as a testament to their growing strength against established cricketing nations.
