UAE rushes for citizenship to make Indian players eligible for Internationals

By Shashank Timsina | Posted Posted Apr 19, 2026

As reported earlier by CricketingCountry, two former IPL players are among five new faces in the UAE squad currently in Kathmandu for their upcoming two-match T20I series against Nepal, followed by the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2.

Middle-order batter Aakashdeep Nath and left-hander Harpreet Singh Bhatia are part of the travelling contingent despite not meeting the ICC’s standard residency criteria.

Under ICC player eligibility regulations, a cricketer must have had a primary and permanent residence in a country for the immediately preceding three years to qualify through residency. Nath, who featured in 14 IPL matches for Gujarat Lions, Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bengaluru between 2016 and 2019, last played the Ranji Trophy in 2024 for Uttar Pradesh. Bhatia, aged 34, represented Kolkata Knight Riders, Pune Warriors India and Punjab Kings across four IPL seasons as recently as 2024, and played Ranji Trophy cricket for Madhya Pradesh in 2025. Neither fulfils the three-year residency clause.

President Decree opens alternate pathway

Their inclusion has instead been made possible through a fast-track citizenship route.

In 2018, UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a decree allowing expatriates to represent the country across sports. The policy enabled eligibility for individuals born in the UAE, long-term residents, and those married to Emirati nationals. While several sports began implementing the framework soon after, this marks the first notable instance of the regulation being used to naturalise cricketers at the international level.

Nath and Bhatia, along with Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Ajay Kumar and Adeeb Usmani, have been granted UAE citizenship, thereby qualifying under the ICC’s nationality clause, which permits selection upon possession of a valid passport.

Domestic performers rewarded

Left-arm quick Ajay Kumar was joint-leading wicket-taker in the most recent ILT20 season with 18 wickets for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, while allrounder Khuzaima followed closely with 17 for defending champions Desert Vipers. Khuzaima, who has been part of UAE’s domestic circuit for three years, and was also picked by Karachi Kings in the ongoing PSL before being released for national duty alongside captain Muhammad Waseem.

Adeeb Usmani, originally from Mumbai, earned his call-up after a productive Emirates D50 campaign, scoring 216 runs in five innings at an average of 43.20 while opening for Fujairah.

Squad yet to be confirmed

The Emirates Cricket Board is yet to officially announce the touring squad. It is understood that 17 players have travelled to Nepal, with two set to return after the T20Is, leaving a 15-member group for the League 2 leg.