In an astonishing first in international cricket, the UAE women’s team employed an extraordinary strategy—retiring out all 10 batters—to outmaneuver looming rain and thrash Qatar by 163 runs in the Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier in Thailand.
The match, held in Bangkok under stormy skies, saw UAE race to 192 without loss in just 16 overs, thanks to a blazing partnership between Esha Oza and Theertha Satish in which, Esha scored 113 off 55 while Satish scored 74 off 42. But what followed next was something never seen before.
Recognizing the dark clouds gathering and the rules around minimum overs for a match to count, head coach Ahmed Raza decided it was time to act—differently. He began by acknowledging the real star of the show, “It was an extraordinary day,” he said, “and I don’t want this series of events overshadowing the brilliant hundred Esha got.”
The plan wasn’t born out of showmanship but necessity. The UAE needed to bowl five overs to make the result official, and the threat of a downpour was intensifying.
Raza highlighted the brilliance of the opening stand, “The opening partnership of 192 between Esha and Theertha was brilliant,” he noted, before turning to the weather concern. “By the end of the 13th or 14th over,” he continued, “we could hear thunder, see lightning and there was a heavy breeze.”
With no option to declare the innings in white-ball cricket, Raza devised a clever workaround. He instructed his batters to pad up and walk to the crease in pairs, only to immediately retire out. The aim? End the innings quickly and legally.
Explaining the legality of his idea, Raza was clear, “Everything which happened was within the laws,” he said. “In white-ball cricket, you cannot declare the innings,” he explained, “so the other way round is to retire all your players.”
He emphasized the process followed before executing the idea, “I checked with the match ref,” he recalled, “I checked with the reserve umpire, and once they were happy with me doing that, that is when we retired all the players at the end of the 16th over.”
The strategy caused initial confusion on the field. Umpires Tabarak Dar and N Janani huddled with reserve umpire Akbar Ali and the match referee before giving the green light.
When Qatar came out to bat, the UAE bowlers wasted no time in asserting dominance. Michelle Botha led the charge with an impressive 3 for 11, while Katie Thompson chipped in with a tidy 2 for 6. Their efforts were backed up brilliantly by a disciplined bowling unit that ensured Qatar never stood a chance. The UAE’s bowlers rushed through their overs and wiped-out Qatar for a paltry 29.
Raza explained the urgency and the team’s focus, “We got through our first five overs quickly,” he said, “because that is what you need to constitute a T20 game.”
“It was drizzling throughout the innings,” he admitted, “but our bowlers managed to get all 10 wickets, which was great, and we got the two crucial points.” He underlined the respect he has for the sport, “Our actions were by no means to disrespect our opposition or cricket,” he stated.
Meanwhile, star batter Esha Oza, who notched her fourth T20I century and is the reigning ICC Associate Cricketer of the Year, admitted the sudden end to her innings was unexpected.
She recalled her surprise when pulled off the field, “I was not exactly aware of the plan when I was called from the batting crease,” Oza said. “But once we crossed the rope,” she explained, “we got a better idea of what was happening.”
Despite the unusual conclusion, she understood the bigger picture. Oza described the conditions they were battling. “We were hearing the thunderstorms,” she continued, “and you never know.” “In these kinds of tournaments,” she concluded, “the result is all important so that was the tactical decision that was made.”
On the other side, Qatar’s players were visibly confused by what was unfolding. Their captain, Aysha Mohammed, took it all in good humor.
She shared her reaction to the rare tactic, “There were a lot of things going on in the middle,” she laughed, “and we were confused as to what was happening.” “What can you say?” she added. “We were not aware [of the retirements],” she admitted. “We just saw the batters running in,” she said, “and we were like, ‘What is going on here?’” “It was the first time in my career I have experienced a scenario like that,” she finished.
While the tactic drew attention for its novelty, it may have opened doors for future rain-threatened strategies. The UAE not only delivered a dominant on-field performance but also showcased sharp thinking under pressure.
As they continue their campaign for a spot in the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup in England, their combination of skill, creativity, and calm under pressure could well set them apart.
(Quotes sourced from The National News)
