Stars of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka lie in wait for thriving UAE women's side

Asia Cup-bound national team are enjoying superb run of success

Theertha Satish, the UAE opener, was named player of the tournament following the conclusion of the ACC Women's T20 Championship in Kuala Lumpur. She hit an unbeaten half-century in UAE's five-wicket win over Malaysia in Saturday's final. Photo: Malaysia Cricket Association

Theertha Satish raises her bat after bringing up her half century in 36 balls in the final against Malaysia. Photo: Malaysia Cricket Association

Some of the UAE players took souvenir stumps to celebrate their title win in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Malaysia Cricket Association

Esha Oza, the UAE opener, was named batter of the tournament at the ACC Women's T20 Championship in Malaysia. Photo: Malaysia Cricket Association

Both teams bowed to thank the fans for their support after UAE beat Malaysia in the final of the ACC Women's T20 Championship in the last game at the Kinrara Oval in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Malaysia Cricket Association

Theertha Satish top scored for UAE in the ACC Women's T20 Championship final against Malaysia. Photo: Malaysia Cricket Association

UAE's players race onto the field to celebrate after the winning runs were scored in the final. Photo: Malaysia Cricket Association

Chaya Mughal, the UAE captain, raises the ACC Women's T20 Championship trophy in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Malaysia Cricket Association

UAE celebrate winning the title in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Malaysia Cricket Association

UAE Chaya Mughal celebrates the key wicket of her opposite number, Winifred Duraisingham, in the final of the ACC Women's T20 Championship against Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. The national team beat the host nation by five wickets in Saturday’s final. Photo: Malaysia Cricket Association

17 June 2022. Match abandoned against Oman at the ACC Women’s T20 Championship in Kuala Lumpur. The day the streak changed from “consecutive wins” to “matches undefeated”. The UAE were well placed against Oman before the shower arrived. Courtesy Malaysia Cricket

22 June 2022. Beat Qatar by 153 runs at the ACC Women’s T20 Championship in Kuala Lumpur. Esha Oza hit her second century of the sequence as the national team overpowered their Gulf neighbours. Courtesy Malaysia Cricket

20 June 2022. Beat Malaysia by 31 runs at the ACC Women’s T20 Championship in Kuala Lumpur. A third-wicket partnership worth 54 for Malaysia made UAE nervous, but Indhuja Nandakumar dispelled the doubts with 4-10. Courtesy Malaysia Cricket

18 June 2022. Beat Singapore by 10 wickets at the ACC Women’s T20 Championship in Kuala Lumpur. No Singapore batter reached double figures, as they were bowled out for 29 in 17.2 overs. Courtesy Malaysia Cricket

Theertha Satish believes UAE cricket can progress even more rapidly when they get to face the likes of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Asia Cup later this year.

The national women’s team have been on a sharp ascent in recent times. They are undefeated since November last year, equalling England’s world record of 20 T20 international matches without a loss in the process.

The run culminated in them beating Malaysia to win the ACC Women’s T20 Championship in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

By reaching the final, the two sides secured qualification for the Asia Cup. It means India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Thailand lie in wait later this year.

“It is a big moment for all of us,” said Theertha, was named player of the tournament after UAE’s success in Malaysia.

“It will be the first time for all of us to play [in a tournament of that standing].

“It is a big thing for UAE and Malaysian cricket, and hopefully the standard of our cricket will keep improving as we go further.”

The player of the tournament award capped an extraordinary start to international cricket by Theertha.

The 18-year-old opener, who only took up the sport three years ago after being inspired by a movie about cricket, captained the national age-group side to qualification for the Under 19 Women’s T20 World Cup earlier in the month.

Since making her T20I debut back in November, she has played 25 matches between the senior and U19 sides, and has yet to lose one.

In the ACC tournament, she scored three half-centuries, including the decisive one in the final which helped UAE chase down the 101 they needed to take the title.

“We just planned to keep our game simple, get the singles and doubles to keep the scoreboard ticking,” Theertha said.

“I think we did it well. We managed to take the singles, and the occasional boundary did come.

“It is down to all the players efforts. The bowling was really good. Only because of them we were able to keep the target to 101.

“That made it easier for the batters to chase it down.”

Chaya Mughal, the captain who has overseen the unprecedented run of success for the UAE team, says they are benefiting from years of hard work.

“This something we have planned for, this is something we have spent our past 15 days [trying for],” Mughal, who is a Dubai-based schoolteacher, said.

“We have been preparing for the past two years, and the reward is now.”