Junaid Siddique has etched his name in the history books of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, becoming the first bowler from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to claim five wickets in a T20 World Cup match. The right-arm pace bowler achieved this remarkable milestone against Canada in a Group D fixture, held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Siddique’s exceptional bowling display saw him bag five wickets for just 35 runs across his four overs. This stellar performance was instrumental in restricting Canada to 150 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. The seasoned campaigner’s achievement highlights the growing prowess of associate nations in the global cricketing arena.
A Historic First for UAE Cricket
Prior to Siddique’s heroics, no UAE bowler had managed to secure a five-wicket haul in the T20 World Cup across previous editions. His spell represents the pinnacle of individual bowling achievement for a UAE player in the tournament to date. Siddique was instrumental in dismantling Canada’s batting line-up, breaking crucial partnerships and removing key top and middle-order batsmen during critical junctures of the match.
He struck early blows, dismissing Yuvraj Samra and captain Dilpreet Bajwa in quick succession. Siddique then returned later in the innings to claim the wickets of Harsh Thaker, Shreyas Movva, and Saad Bin Zafar, completing his five-wicket haul. His economical and wicket-taking spell effectively curbed Canada’s scoring potential. This performance also ranks among the best bowling figures by an associate nation bowler in T20 World Cup history.
UAE Bowlers’ Best T20 World Cup Figures
Here’s a look at some of the top bowling performances by UAE bowlers in T20 World Cups:
- Junaid Siddique:
- Matches: 5
- Innings: 5
- Wickets: 9
- Best Bowling: 5/35
- KP Meiyappan:
- Matches: 3
- Innings: 3
- Wickets: 5
- Best Bowling: 3/19
- Basil Hameed:
- Matches: 3
- Innings: 3
- Wickets: 3
- Best Bowling: 2/17
- AM Guruge:
- Matches: 2
- Innings: 2
- Wickets: 2
- Best Bowling: 2/18
- Kamran Shazad:
- Matches: 3
- Innings: 3
- Wickets: 2
- Best Bowling: 2/19
Elite Company: Best Figures by Associate Bowlers in T20 World Cup
Junaid Siddique’s 5/35 now sits alongside some of the most impressive bowling figures ever recorded by bowlers from associate nations in the T20 World Cup:
- 5/19 by Ahsan Malik (NED vs SA in Chattogram, 2014)
- 5/35 by Junaid Siddique (UAE vs CAN in Delhi, 2026)
- 4/11 by Paul van Meekeren (NED vs IRE in Dharamsala, 2016)
- 4/17 by Michael Leask (SCO vs ITA in Kolkata, 2026)
Five-Wicket Hauls for UAE in T20Is
Siddique’s five-wicket haul isn’t the only one for the UAE in T20 Internationals, showcasing the team’s bowling talent over the years:
- 5/19 by Ahmed Raza vs Nepal in Al Amerat, 2022
- 5/21 by Zuhaib Zubair vs Nigeria in Entebbe, 2025
- 5/35 by Junaid Siddique vs Canada in Delhi, 2026
Canada Sets 151 Target After Resilient Innings
Despite Siddique’s exceptional spell, Canada managed to post a competitive total of 150 runs for 7 wickets in their 20 overs. Harsh Thaker was the standout performer with the bat for the Canadian side, top-scoring with a brisk 50 runs off 41 deliveries, including two boundaries and three sixes. Navneet Dhaliwal contributed a valuable 34 runs, while Shreyas Movva added 21 to the total.
Siddique’s early breakthroughs during the powerplay put Canada on the back foot, claiming two vital wickets. The middle order struggled to build sustained partnerships, with Nicholas Kirton falling for a meagre score. Siddique’s late strike against Saad Bin Zafar further hampered Canada’s progress. Dilon Heyliger managed to strike a six off the final ball of the innings, nudging the score to the 150-run mark.
From the UAE bowling attack, Muhammad Jawadullah also delivered an impressive performance, conceding just 16 runs from his four overs while picking up a wicket. The match is now underway with the UAE commencing their chase for 151 runs.
For the UAE to make Junaid Siddique’s historic spell truly count, their batting unit will need to deliver a strong performance and chase down the target.
