UAE opening batter Mohammad Zuhaib has been sent back from India to Dubai during the ICC T20 World Cup, with conflicting accounts emerging over the reasons for his removal from the squad.
In an official statement, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) said Zuhaib was returned to Dubai due to disciplinary violations. The board stated that further details would be shared at an appropriate time and declined to comment further for now.
Zuhaib, however, has denied the allegations and accused the team management of unfair treatment.
In a series of video statements, Zuhaib claimed that the entire team management is Indian and alleged that he was targeted because of his Pakistani background. He called on the Emirates Cricket Board to conduct a formal investigation into the matter.
The UAE team is currently in Chennai, India, for its T20 World Cup fixtures.
In a video message addressed to the ECB chairman, Zuhaib said that over several days, members of the coaching staff and team management pressured him to declare himself unfit so that 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 intended to make room for other players.
In another video recorded from the practice ground, Zuhaib said he was asked to leave in the middle of a training session and informed that he had a flight back to Dubai. He alleged that he was told his hotel booking would be canceled if he did not comply, adding that he felt intimidated by the situation.
Speaking from an airport in India, Zuhaib appealed to both the Emirates Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council (ICC). He claimed that he was verbally abused and sent back without justification, adding that he had not committed any wrongdoing and was never formally informed of the charges against him.
Zuhaib said the UAE team represents a multicultural nation and should not be divided along national or ethnic lines. Acknowledging that speaking out could impact his career, he said he felt compelled to raise his voice over what he described as unfair treatment.
The Emirates Cricket Board has not yet publicly responded to Zuhaib’s specific allegations.
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