Introduction: Cricket is a game of strategy, surprises, and sometimes, sheer unpredictability. In an extraordinary moment at the Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025 in Bangkok, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) women’s team etched their name into the history books with a decision that left fans and analysts dumbfounded. During their group-stage clash against Qatar at the Terdthai Cricket Ground on Saturday, all 10 UAE batters retired out in a single match, creating one of the most peculiar scorecards in T20 cricket history. But why did they resort to such an unusual tactic? Let’s dive into the details of this dramatic encounter.
The Blistering Start: UAE’s openers, Theertha Satish and captain Esha Oza, set the tone with a commanding performance. The duo put on a staggering 192-run partnership in just 16 overs, decimating Qatar’s bowling attack. Oza was the standout performer, smashing a breathtaking 113 off 55 balls, including 14 fours and 5 sixes, at a strike rate of over 200. Satish complemented her captain with a fiery 74 off 42 deliveries. With the scoreboard reading 192/0, both openers retired after the 16th over, presumably to give others a chance—or so everyone thought.
The Bizarre Turn of Events: What unfolded next was nothing short of surreal. Starting from the 17th over, every subsequent UAE batter walked off the field, declared as ‘retired out’. In total, 10 batters—including eight who didn’t face a single ball—exited the game without contributing to the score. According to sources, this was a tactical move to hasten the end of their innings due to a looming rain threat and potential interruptions under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. The UAE team management likely aimed to ensure they posted a defendable total and moved to the bowling phase swiftly. The scorecard now stands as a rare artifact in cricket history, with a record-breaking number of ‘retired out’ entries in an international match.
Bowling Dominance and Qatar’s Collapse: Despite the unusual end to their batting, UAE’s bowlers showed no signs of distraction. They dismantled Qatar’s batting lineup with ruthless precision, bowling them out for a meager 29 runs in 11.1 overs. Only Rizpha Emmanuel managed double figures with 20 runs, while seven Qatari batters were dismissed for ducks. UAE’s Michelle Botha led the attack with figures of 3/11, supported by a disciplined effort from the entire bowling unit, with all five other bowlers claiming at least one wicket. The result? A staggering 163-run victory for UAE.
Conclusion and Reflection: While UAE’s massive win over Qatar will go down as a dominant performance, it’s the bizarre strategy of retiring out 10 batters that has stolen the spotlight. This incident raises questions about the spirit of the game, strategic loopholes, and how weather conditions influence team decisions in modern cricket. Was this a masterstroke by the UAE think tank, or did it cross an ethical line? One thing is certain: this match at the Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025 will be remembered not just for the scoreline, but for a scorecard that defies convention. As fans, we can only marvel at the unpredictability of cricket—a sport where history is made in the most unexpected ways.