New Delhi, Feb 17 (NationPress) The head coach of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Lalchand Rajput, has showered accolades on Sohaib Khan, recognizing him as a remarkable middle-order batsman ahead of their crucial ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 Group D match against South Africa. Rajput noted that Sohaib has the potential to elevate his cricketing journey even further.

Despite UAE being eliminated from the Super Eights contention, Sohaib has proven to be a significant positive outcome for the team during this tournament. He became the first UAE batsman to score consecutive fifties in a single T20 World Cup edition, achieving this against both Canada and Afghanistan.

With nine sixes to his name, Sohaib holds the record for the most sixes hit by a UAE player in a single T20 World Cup edition. His performance has helped the UAE to attain the fourth-best run rate (12.3) during the last four overs, showcasing an incredible strike rate of 197.

"He is a player who has been a revelation in the middle-order. He came into the team through his performances in local cricket, which caught our attention, leading to his selection for the national camp. He displayed immense promise and performed remarkably well, earning his place in the World Cup, and he has continued to excel since then," Rajput remarked during a pre-match press conference.

"Previously, he showcased his talent at the Emerging (Men's Asia) Cup, where he scored over 60 runs against India. His performance is commendable; he plays with a realistic approach and trusts his skills. His consecutive fifties and impactful plays have been crucial for us, nearly securing a win in the recent match as well," he added.

"This is a great platform for him to demonstrate his skills. I am confident he will only ascend from here, and he understands the importance of maintaining this momentum, which is beneficial for UAE cricket as we have found a capable middle-order batsman," Rajput emphasized.

South Africa has already secured a place in the Super Eights with three victories from three matches in Group D, entering the game against the UAE with nothing to lose. Rajput, who was the manager of the Indian team during their victorious 2007 Men’s T20 World Cup campaign in South Africa, expressed that the UAE has showcased enough talent throughout the tournament to build optimism for future matches.

"If you look at the UAE's journey so far, it has been commendable. Our first game didn’t go well for the bowling unit, but we showed resilience. The last two matches proved that we are a stronger team than initially perceived after our first match," Rajput noted.

The UAE faced a heavy defeat of 10 wickets to New Zealand in their opening game in Chennai but bounced back to secure a five-wicket victory against Canada in New Delhi and put up a solid fight against Afghanistan, losing by five wickets.

"Associate nations often lack the opportunity to play against top-tier teams regularly. This tournament has provided a significant chance for them to break free from that limit. Winning matches boosts confidence, leading to improved performances. This World Cup has demonstrated that our players possess the self-belief to succeed, and we hope this momentum continues," Rajput stated.

Rajput, who also has a long history with Zimbabwe's coaching staff, spoke about their surprising 23-run triumph over Australia, which has left Group B wide open. Zimbabwe is set to face Ireland in Kandy, where rain has delayed the toss. Rajput believed that a win for Zimbabwe could secure their maiden Super Eight berth while eliminating the 2021 champions, Australia, from contention.

"I spent five years with Zimbabwe, and their victory over Australia was noteworthy. If they manage to beat Ireland today, Australia will be out, which would be a significant achievement for Zimbabwe cricket, especially since they missed the last World Cup. Qualifying for the Super Eights would showcase their improvement beyond expectations," he concluded.