Five members of the current UAE men’s squad – Khuzaima Tanveer, Ajay Kumar, Akshdeep Nath, Harpreet Bhatia and Adeeb Usmani – have become the first cricketers to receive Emirati citizenship through naturalisation. All five are already in Nepal for two T20 internationals and a one-day tri-series, so the news broke while they were on tour.
The UAE has naturalised overseas athletes before – footballers, judokas, even a handful of rugby players – after a 2018 presidential decree smoothed the process. Cricket, though, has tended to rely on the ICC’s three-year residency rule rather than full passports. These five now move beyond that: they can play for the UAE because they are citizens, not just residents, and that is a subtle but meaningful shift.
“From the day I landed in the UAE, it was my dream to represent the country at the international level,” Kumar told The National. “Now I am getting this chance and all thanks to UAE, the support staff, and I have really been helped by playing domestic and club level cricket.
“They have been looking after us really well. The management have been supportive throughout the whole journey. I am grateful to the board and all the cricket fraternity. I am really excited to represent this country and do well for them.”
Tanveer struck a similar note. “If you get this opportunity to represent your country, it is a feeling that is out of this world for any player,” he said. “The country is trusting you and giving you this chance, so I think you are the lucky one. I have played UAE domestic cricket for the past three years and have played the past two seasons of ILT20 and Abu Dhabi T10.
“It has been a great experience to play with international players. Now I have this opportunity to play for UAE. I am very grateful to the Emirates Cricket Board for supporting me.”
Why does it matter? In practical terms, naturalised players no longer need to double-check residency clocks whenever schedules change. Administrators also gain a little security; a citizen is less likely to leave than a contractor working on a short visa.
The wider question is how many more will follow. The ECB hasn’t published criteria beyond “exceptional contribution”, and that vagueness gives it flexibility but also invites scrutiny. A measured approach seems likely: too many passports too quickly risks accusations of stacking the side, yet a handful each year could strengthen depth without upsetting balance.
For now, the five newcomers have hardware—actual passports—in their kit bags. The cricket itself takes centre stage in Kathmandu later this week, and selectors will watch closely to see whether the sentiment turns into match-winning performances.
