The UAE will compete against Ireland, Scotland, Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea in Group A, with 10 teams participating in the Ajman tournament.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will begin its campaign in the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 against Ireland on November 13, with Esha Oza leading a 14-member squad. The second edition of the ICC tournament began on November 12 in Ajman and will conclude with the final on November 25.
The competition features 10 teams, including five ICC Full Member and five Associate Member nations. The UAE will face Ireland, Scotland, Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea in the group stage. Indian cricket fans can follow the matches through FanCode.
Who is captaining the UAE in the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2026?
All-rounder Esha Oza will captain the UAE women’s team in the tournament. The hosts have selected 14 players for the competition, with Theertha Satish included as the designated wicketkeeper.
The squad brings together players who will represent the UAE across the batting, bowling and fielding departments as the team prepares to compete against four Group A opponents.
Here is the complete UAE squad:
| Player | Role |
| Esha Oza | Captain |
| Maseera Jahangir | Player |
| Archara Supriya | Player |
| Heena Hotchandani | Player |
| Indhuja Nandakumar | Player |
| Janani Thirukkumari | Player |
| Mehul Kulkarni | Player |
| Rinitha Rajith | Player |
| Samaira Dharnidharka | Player |
| Simran Sheth | Player |
| Sashikala Silva | Player |
| Suraksha Kotte | Player |
| Theertha Satish | Wicketkeeper |
| Uttara Iyer | Player |
The team’s support staff includes Subha Venkataraman as manager, Oscar Nauhaus as head coach, Shyla Alam as strength and conditioning coach, and Merin Saji as physiotherapist.
Who is the UAE women’s team’s new head coach?
Oscar Nauhaus will take charge of the UAE women’s team during the competition. The Emirates Cricket Board announced his appointment on October 27, 2026.
Before joining the UAE setup, Nauhaus worked as the High Performance Manager at Cricket Namibia, where he was involved in player development and high-performance programmes.
His coaching experience includes guiding Namibia’s Under-19 men’s team to qualification for the 2024 ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup. He was also part of Namibia’s support staff during the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Nauhaus succeeds Ahmed Raza, who was appointed UAE men’s head coach on November 6 after previously leading the women’s team.
Which teams are participating in the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2026?
Ten teams will compete in the tournament, divided into two groups of five.
The participating teams are Bangladesh, Ireland, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the UAE and Zimbabwe.
The groups are as follows:
Group A
- United Arab Emirates
- Sri Lanka
- Ireland
- Scotland
- Papua New Guinea
Group B
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- Thailand
- Netherlands
- Zimbabwe
The competition has expanded from eight teams in its inaugural 2025 edition to 10 teams in 2026. The format brings together Full Member nations and Associate Member teams, providing more opportunities for emerging sides to compete internationally.
Thailand enter the competition as defending champions after winning the inaugural edition in 2025.
What is the UAE’s match schedule in the tournament?
Esha Oza’s team will play four group-stage matches between November 13 and November 18.
The UAE will face Ireland in its opening fixture before taking on Scotland, Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea.
Here is the complete group-stage schedule:
| Date | Match | Venue | UAE Time | IST |
| November 13 | UAE vs Ireland | Seven Districts Sports Club | 9:00 AM | 10:30 AM |
| November 15 | Scotland vs UAE | Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground | 1:15 PM | 2:45 PM |
| November 16 | UAE vs Sri Lanka | Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground | 1:15 PM | 2:45 PM |
| November 18 | Papua New Guinea vs UAE | Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground | 9:00 AM | 10:30 AM |
All four fixtures will take place in Ajman. The UAE will need to finish among the top three teams in Group A to qualify for the Super Six round.
The Indian timings are provided for viewers following the matches from India. The UAE is one hour and 30 minutes behind Indian Standard Time.
Where to watch the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 live in India?
Indian viewers can watch the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 through FanCode’s app and website.
FanCode lists the tournament on its official platform, where viewers can check match information and streaming availability.
ICC.tv also lists the tournament for streaming in selected territories. However, availability may differ depending on the viewer’s location.
For Indian cricket fans, FanCode is the platform to check for live coverage of the competition.
What is the tournament format and when is the final?
The Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 follows a group-stage and Super Six format.
The group stage runs from November 12 to November 18. Each team will play four matches against the other sides in its group.
The top three teams from each group will qualify for the Super Six stage, scheduled from November 20 to November 23.
During this round, each qualifying team will face the three teams that progress from the opposite group. The two highest-ranked teams at the end of the Super Six stage will qualify for the final.
The title match is scheduled for November 25 at the Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground in Ajman.
The expanded format gives Associate Member teams an opportunity to compete against Full Member nations and gain experience in a competitive international tournament.
Why is the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 important?
The competition provides women’s cricket teams with an opportunity to compete against international opponents and gain experience in a structured tournament.
The participation of five Full Member nations alongside five Associate Member teams makes the competition a platform for emerging cricket teams to test their performances against established international sides.
For the UAE, playing at home gives the squad an opportunity to compete in familiar conditions. Esha Oza‘s leadership and the team’s performances against Ireland, Scotland, Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea will determine their progress in the group stage.
The tournament’s expansion from eight to 10 teams also increases participation and gives more nations an opportunity to compete for the title.
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