Match: 86th Match, ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Time: 10:30 AM Local (9:30 AM Local per official schedule)
Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Series: ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2, 2025/26 Season
Match Format: 50-over ODI (Day Match)
What’s at Stake?
This match is part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 qualification pathway. Both teams are fighting for crucial points to secure their spot in the next stage of World Cup qualifying.
The USA currently sit second on the League 2 table with 28 points from 20 matches, boasting 14 wins and a positive net run rate of 0.758. They have shown great consistency throughout the tournament.
The UAE, meanwhile, occupy the bottom spot with just six points, making this a must-win game for the home side as they look to climb up the standings.
Team Squads
UAE Squad (Confirmed)
Source: Emirates Cricket Board official announcement, October 24, 2025
Rahul Chopra will lead the 15-member UAE squad. The full squad includes:
- Captain & Wicketkeeper: Rahul Chopra
- Wicketkeeper: Aryansh Sharma
- Batters: Alishan Sharafu, Haider Ali, Shoaib Khan, Mayank Kumar, Muhammad Waseem
- All-rounders: Dhruv Parshar, Harshit Kaushik
- Bowlers: Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Arfan, Muhammad Shahdad, Muhammad Rohid Khan (spin), Zahid Ali (spin), Simranjeet Singh (pace)
Likely Playing XI: Rahul Chopra (c/wk), Muhammad Waseem, Alishan Sharafu, Haider Ali, Shoaib Khan, Dhruv Parshar, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Zahid Ali, Simranjeet Singh
Note: Final XI not yet confirmed. This is based on squad depth and recent matches.
USA Squad (Confirmed)
Source: USA Cricket official announcement, October 24, 2025
USA Cricket announced their 15-member squad with Monank Patel as captain and Jessy Singh as vice-captain.
Full squad:
- Captain: Monank Patel
- Vice-Captain: Jessy Singh
- Wicketkeeper: Andries Gous
- Batters: Milind Kumar, Smit Patel, Shayan Jahangir, Saiteja Mukkamalla
- All-rounders: Harmeet Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Shubham Ranjane, Rushil Ugarkar
- Bowlers: Saurabh Netravalkar, Juanoy Drysdale, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Yasir Mohammad
All-rounders Shubham Subhash Ranjane and Rushil Ugarkar have been included in the USA squad for the first time and could make their ICC ODI debuts during this series.
Likely Playing XI: Monank Patel (c), Smit Patel, Andries Gous (wk), Milind Kumar, Saiteja Mukkamalla, Harmeet Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Saurabh Netravalkar, Juanoy Drysdale, Jessy Singh, Yasir Mohammad
Note: Final XI not yet confirmed. Selection may depend on pitch conditions.
Pitch Report and Weather
Venue Conditions
Dubai International Cricket Stadium is a low to medium scoring ground, with assistance for both pacers and spinners.
The pitch is renowned for its batting-friendly nature early on, staying firm during the start. Fast bowlers can extract sharp movement and bounce with the new ball, while spinners may face challenges in the shortest format.
For ODI cricket, the pitch offers:
- Early help for pace bowlers with the new ball
- Good batting conditions once batters settle in
- Spin coming into play in the middle overs
- Average first innings scores around 230-240 runs
Weather: Clear and sunny conditions expected with temperatures around 29-30°C. No rain forecast.
Players to Watch
| Role | Player | Team | Why Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batter | Milind Kumar | USA | Scored an impressive 155 not out off 110 deliveries in USA’s last match against UAE in September 2024. In excellent form. |
| Batter | Saiteja Mukkamalla | USA | Contributed 107 runs off 99 balls in the previous USA vs UAE encounter. Young talent on the rise. |
| Bowler | Saurabh Netravalkar | USA | Delivered outstanding figures of 3-32 in seven overs in their last meeting. Experienced left-arm seamer. |
| Bowler | Nosthush Kenjige | USA | Finished with figures of 3-32 against UAE in September. Key spinner for USA. |
| Batter | Alishan Sharafu | UAE | Named among UAE’s talented batters. Important top-order player for the hosts. |
| Bowler | Junaid Siddique | UAE | Will spearhead the pace attack for UAE. Experienced campaigner. |
| Bowler | Muhammad Rohid Khan | UAE | Capable spinner who can exploit Dubai’s dry surfaces. Key in middle overs. |
| All-rounder | Shubham Ranjane | USA | Included in the USA squad for the first time and could make his ODI debut. Watch out for this debutant. |
Head-to-Head Record
United Arab Emirates and United States have faced each other in 9 matches in ODI. UAE have won 2 whereas USA have won 7 times.
Recent Form:
USA secured a commanding victory in their last meeting, winning by 136 runs in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 in Namibia in September 2024.
USA have won four out of their last five completed ODI matches, showing strong momentum heading into this game.
What to Expect
This should be an exciting contest between two teams with different objectives. USA will look to continue their dominant run and strengthen their position at the top of the table. They have the winning formula and match-winners throughout their lineup.
For UAE, playing at home in Dubai gives them a psychological advantage. However, they are under pressure after struggling in the tournament so far. Rahul Chopra leads the 15-member UAE side in this crucial leg of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 50-over global qualifying stage.
Key Factors:
- USA’s confidence: Coming off recent wins, they have momentum on their side
- Home advantage: UAE will be familiar with Dubai conditions
- Pitch conditions: Early movement for pacers, then slower for spinners
- Batting depth: Both teams have strong middle orders
Match Prediction
Based on current form and head-to-head records, USA are favorites to win this match. They have superior recent performances, a balanced squad, and have already beaten UAE convincingly in their last meeting.
However, UAE playing at home cannot be written off completely. If their batters can fire and put a competitive total on the board, they have the bowling attack to defend it.
Predicted Winner: USA by 60-80 runs or 5-6 wickets
Toss Strategy: Teams may prefer to bat first in day matches in Dubai to set a target, as the pitch remains good throughout. However, chasing has also been successful at this venue.
How to Watch
All matches of the CWC League 2 will be streamed live on ICC.tv and other regional broadcasters.
Stay tuned for toss updates and confirmed playing XIs closer to match time!
Sources:
- USA Cricket official website (squad announcement, October 24, 2025)
- Emirates Cricket Board official website (squad announcement, October 24, 2025)
- ESPNcricinfo (match details and venue information)
- Cricket Times (squad analysis, October 25, 2025)
This preview will be updated with confirmed playing XIs and toss information once available from official sources.