United Arab Emirates (UAE) head coach, Lalchand Rajput, commended Sohaib Khan for his exceptional performance as a middle-order batsman in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Despite UAE being out of the Super Eights race, Sohaib’s consistent performance has been a highlight for the team, with impressive back-to-back fifties against Canada and Afghanistan.
Sohaib Khan has set a record as the first UAE player to achieve consecutive half-centuries in a single T20 World Cup edition. His nine sixes also mark the highest number of maximums hit by a UAE player in a single T20 World Cup tournament, contributing significantly to UAE’s run rate and his remarkable strike rate of 197 in overs 17-20.
Coach Rajput praised Sohaib’s emergence in the middle-order, highlighting his journey from local cricket games to the national team. Rajput emphasized Sohaib’s positive approach, skill, and consistency, noting his pivotal role in recent matches and expressing confidence in Sohaib’s potential to further excel in his cricketing career.
South Africa, having secured their spot in the Super Eights with three wins in Group D, face UAE with a strong position. Rajput, reflecting on UAE’s performance in the tournament, acknowledged the team’s progress and resilience, despite initial challenges, and expressed optimism for their future matches based on the encouraging display so far.
