Bangladesh will look to complete a commanding T20I series sweep over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) when the two sides clash in the second and final match in Sharjah on Monday.
After a convincing 27-run victory in the opening game, the Tigers are confident but cautious, knowing that UAE posed a late challenge in their pursuit of 192.
Skipper Litton Das is determined to see a sharper performance from his side, urging his players to show greater discipline, especially in the closing stages. “The wicket was excellent for batting, and the way Parvez Hossain Emon played was exceptional,” Das said. “However, we couldn’t capitalize in the last few overs. We must finish stronger. I trust our bowling unit, and they showed great composure, but credit to the UAE batters for their resilience in the middle overs.”
Emon, just 22 years old, was the standout performer in the first T20I with a brilliant century that included five fours and a record-breaking nine sixes. His explosive 54-ball knock demonstrated the aggressive style Bangladesh is hoping to adopt ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup next year. With this innings, Emon became only the second Bangladeshi to score a century in men’s T20Is, joining the legendary Tamim Iqbal.
“I grew up watching Tamim bhai play, and I still follow his matches,” said Emon after the game. “It’s a proud moment for me to have my name next to his. I remembered his century against Oman in the 2016 T20 World Cup and always dreamed of achieving something similar for Bangladesh.”
While Bangladesh celebrates individual brilliance and tactical improvements, they remain wary of the UAE, who showed flashes of dangerous potential. The Sharjah pitch has offered plenty for both batters and bowlers, and the visitors know they must remain focused if they want to complete the sweep.
A series win in the UAE would boost Bangladesh’s confidence ahead of a packed international schedule. The team is keen to send a strong message by wrapping up the tour with another dominant display in the UAE, strengthening their record in the Gulf region and proving they can adapt quickly to varying conditions.