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The UAE cricket team has officially announced the inclusion of wicketkeeper-batter Haider Shah as a substitute for Muhammad Zohaib for the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup. This decision was confirmed by the Event Technical Committee of the tournament, as stated in an announcement on Wednesday.

Haider Shah, who has participated in 16 T20 International matches, steps in after Zohaib's withdrawal, which was attributed to concerns regarding player mental health and overall team welfare.

According to the statement, any player replacement must receive the green light from the Event Technical Committee (ETC) before being officially integrated into the squad. The ETC for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 includes notable figures such as Wasim Khan (ICC General Manager - Cricket), Gaurav Saxena (IBC Representative), Hemang Amin (Host Representative), and Shaun Pollock (Independent Representative).

In their opening group stage match, the UAE faced a heavy defeat, losing by 10 wickets to New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner. The Black Caps successfully chased down a target of 174 runs with 28 balls remaining.

The opening partnership between Tim Seifert (89 not out from 42 balls) and Finn Allen (84 not out from 50 balls) was instrumental, allowing New Zealand to surpass the target in just 15.2 overs. With this victory, New Zealand remains undefeated in the tournament, having won both of their matches.

During the chase, Allen struck five fours and five sixes, while Seifert hit 12 fours and three sixes. Their partnership of 175 runs for the first wicket set a new record for the highest partnership for any wicket in T20 World Cup history.