Muhammad Zohaib (born October 5, 1998) is a left-handed batsman and off-spin bowler who plays for the United Arab Emirates national cricket team. He made his T20 International debut in 2024 and has played around 16 T20Is for the UAE, scoring over 300 runs with a highest score of 50 against Nigeria.
He bats at the top of the order and hits both fours and sixes. Zohaib has also played for UAE domestic teams, including Sharjah, Emirates Blues, Karwan Cricket Club, CSS Group, Emirates Red, and Dubai Capitals Development.
Muhammad Zohaib Removed Before T20 World Cup
Just before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 started, the United Arab Emirates team made a sudden decision about Muhammad Zohaib. Zohaib is an all-rounder who was part of the UAE squad for the tournament. However, right before their first match against New Zealand in Chennai, the Emirates Cricket Board announced that he had been released from the squad due to disciplinary issues.
The board did not clearly explain what rule he had broken. They only said that it was related to team discipline. Because of this, Zohaib was sent home and did not play in the tournament. His removal came at a very important time, just before the opening game, which surprised many fans.
Muhammad Zohaib Replacement for the T20 World Cup
After the announcement, another player named Haider Shah was brought into the squad as his replacement. This meant the UAE had to quickly adjust their team plans before facing New Zealand.
There were also reports that Zohaib did not fully agree with how the situation was described. Some reports suggested that he felt he was ready and fit to play. However, the cricket board did not change its decision.
The main action taken by the Emirates Cricket Board was to remove him from the official World Cup squad. The outcome was that Zohaib missed the entire tournament, andthe UAE continued their campaign without him. The board said they would look into the matter further, but no detailed public explanation was given at that time.
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