Pakistan-origin UAE opener Zuhaib cries foul as team sent him back from India during T20 World Cup

UAE opening batter Mohammad Zuhaib, who is of Pakistani origin, has been sent back from India to Dubai during the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup, with conflicting claims emerging over the reasons for his removal from the squad.

In an official statement, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) said that Zuhaib was returned to Dubai due to disciplinary violations. The board added that further details would be shared at an appropriate time and declined to comment further on the matter for now.

Zuhaib, however, has rejected the allegations and accused the team management of unfair treatment.

In a series of video statements, he claimed that the entire team management is Indian and alleged that he was sidelined because of his Pakistani background. He has called on the Emirates Cricket Board to conduct a formal investigation into the incident.

The UAE team is currently in Chennai, India, for the T20 World Cup fixtures.

In a video message addressed to the ECB chairman, Zuhaib alleged that over the past several days, members of the coaching staff and team management had pressured him to declare himself unfit so he could be sent back to the UAE. He claimed that when he refused, he was threatened with consequences for his future career.

Zuhaib further alleged that he was later asked to return to Dubai under the pretext of his mother’s health, without being given a clear explanation. He said he was eventually sent back against his will and claimed the move was aimed at making room for other players.

In another video recorded from the practice ground, Zuhaib said he was asked to leave mid-session and informed that he had a flight back to Dubai. He alleged that he was later told his hotel booking would be cancelled if he did not comply, adding that he felt intimidated by the situation.

Speaking from an Indian airport, Zuhaib appealed to both the Emirates Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council (ICC), claiming he had been verbally abused and sent back without justification. He said he had not committed any wrongdoing and was never formally informed of the charges against him.

Zuhaib maintained that the UAE team represents a multicultural nation and should not be divided along national or ethnic lines. Acknowledging that speaking out could affect his career, he said he felt compelled to raise his voice over what he described as unfair treatment.

The ECB has not yet responded publicly to Zuhaib’s specific allegations.