TEN batters all retired out without a ball being bowled in bizarre never-seen-before cricket tactics.
And yet it worked a masterstroke as the team still won their World Cup qualifier.
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United Arab Emirates faced Qatar in Thailand, needing a win to stay in control of topping their Women’s 2026 T20 World Cup Asian qualifying group.
Only one side progresses to the Super 3 stage of Asia’a qualifying to try and earn a spot in the Global Qualifier to then make their way to next year’s tournament in England.
The UAE openers put on a whopping 192 without losing a wicket after 16 overs.
However, the risk of rain threatened to put a result in the match in jeopardy.
In T20 cricket, a team cannot declare in their innings like in Test cricket.
And that meant the UAE’s innings had to be completed.
So their coach Ahmed Raza had the genius idea to get ten batters to retire out.
As a result, UAE’s openers both surrendered their unbeaten scores before eight further team-mates walked out fully kitted up and retired, one after the other in barely believable scenes.
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UAE went from 192-0 after 16 overs to 192 all out in 16 overs – with their innings all over despite Qatar’s bowlers failing to take a single wicket.
Qatar, ranked 52 in the world rankings, were unable to withstand the pressure from the UAE bowlers in response.
And Qatar were bowled all out for 29 in 11.1 overs, securing a 163-run win for UAE.
Coach Raza said: “Whilst the innings was going on we started hearing thunder and slight drizzle started.
“With the thunder and drizzle we just had to make sure the whole game was played because the weather has been around.
“At the start of our bowling innings, it was already drizzling and we were scared of the thunderstorm.
“I went to the umpires and checked whether we could declare but in white-ball cricket you cannot declare.
“I then asked the match referee if I could retire my whole team out.
“There was not enough time. It was all done purely to get a result.
“By doing this I meant no disrespect to anyone involved, our opposition.
“Everything that happened was within the laws and was well communicated with the match referee.
“This extraordinary series of events should not overshadow our captain’s hundred and our opening stand of 192 and our bowlers doing the remaining job.”
England cricket fixtures 2025
- T20 vs India: Jan 22-Feb 2
- Test vs Zimbabwe: May 22-25
- ODI vs West Indies: May 29-Jun 25
- T20 vs West Indies: June 6-10
- Tests vs India: June 20-Aug 3
- ODI vs South Africa: Sept 2-7
- T20 vs South Africa: Sept 10-14
- ODI vs Ireland: Sept 17-21
- Ashes vs Australia: Nov 21-Jan 8 2026