The United Arab Emirates (UAE) have always been a proud cricketing nation. They have hosted some of the most historic matches, especially in the 90s and 2000s. However, when it comes to their cricket team, they are slowly but steadily on the rise. They have made two of the last four T20 World Cups, notching up a couple of wins along the way. Moreover, they also host the International League T20 (ILT20), which has given many local cricketers exposure and an opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the best cricketers in the world.
That has paved the way for many talented local cricketers to further enhance themselves and get a crack at representing the UAE at the highest level. While Indians and Pakistanis playing for UAE is not uncommon, recently they found a way to override the ICC rule that requires a three-year cooling-off period or meet the residency requirement.
However, five cricketers, including Harpreet Singh Bhatia, were recently granted UAE citizenship through naturalisation. Moreover, he has already played for the UAE, slamming two fifties in four ODI innings.
In a matter of months, Harpreet went from representing Madhya Pradesh at the domestic level to playing for the UAE.
“Transitioning from playing domestic cricket for Madhya Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy [SMAT] to representing the UAE was a whirlwind journey. That 3-4 month window was a massive leap. It involved adapting to a completely new cricketing setup, making a permanent lifestyle move, and fast-tracking my integration into the UAE national squad,” Harpreet said of his journey from India to UAE, in a chat with The Crichub.
“The UAE dressing room is defined by a unique, unifying camaraderie. Because the squad largely comprises players of Indian, Pakistani, and Afghan origin, they have managed to build a close-knit “family” atmosphere,” he added.
The debut series
Harpreet made his UAE debut in the T20I series against Nepal in Kirtipur on April 20. While he did not make the best of his opportunities in those two matches, he made amends in the ODI tri-series against Oman and Nepal. He hit 39, 54, 41 and 77 as his side won two of those matches, still keeping UAE in the hunt for a place in the ICC CWC League 2 top four.
Speaking of his experience of walking out, Harpreet recalls, “Walking out to represent the UAE for the first time is a profoundly emotional and surreal experience. While it can feel slightly strange initially given a background in Indian cricket, players often embrace it with immense pride as they anchor themselves in the UAE’s growing cricket ecosystem.”
“It feels absolutely surreal and out of this world to finally represent the UAE at the international level. Stepping onto the pitch wearing the national colors represents the culmination of years of hard work, sacrifices, and a testament to the belief that the Emirates Cricket Board has shown in our journey.”
One of the key architects behind UAE making the last few T20 World Cups has been Lalchand Rajput. A series win over Bangladesh and qualifying for the T20 World Cup 2026 have all come under Rajput. Just before he took over, UAE had also beaten New Zealand in a T20I and also played in the 2022 T20 Word Cup as well. Safe to say, the UAE are making the right noises on the world scene and will get better from here, especially with the inclusion of quality cricketers like Harpreet.
Praising Rajput, Harpreet feels his ability to work on the smallest of details sets him apart.
“Lalchand Rajput Sir brings immense experience and a no-nonsense approach. His tenure as UAE head coach has been transformative. Sir has focused heavily on shifting the squad’s “comfortable” lifestyle into a determined, Mumbai-style “hard work” ethic, prioritising small, incremental improvements over drastic overhauls,” he said.
Such was Harpreet’s talent that he was named vice-captain of the India Under-19 side that toured Australia in 2009 and was then also named in the U-19 World Cup squad in New Zealand. In fact, he scored 125 on his U-19 Test debut against Australia in Hobart, helping his side to a comfortable victory.
Mind you, Harpreet still holds the record for the most runs in SMAT history!
Besides representing Madhya Pradesh in all formats, he also played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as recently as 2024.
“The journey was amazing, and I was so lucky to play cricket with full support given by family. Initially it was tough in Chhattisgarh because, Chhattisgarh Association was not a full member of BCCI, and then I decided to play for Sagar district in MP,” Harpreet said, recalling his journey.
“Playing all BCCI age groups in one year along with Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was a different feeling, and I learned so much in that Phase. I’m very thankful to BCCI, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Cricket Association for giving me the opportunity as a player and as a leader to live my journey in Indian Cricket.”
Sharing the dressing room with Rajat Patidar
At MP, Harpreet shared the dressing room with top players like Rajat Patidar and Venkatesh Iyer, to name a few. Patidar recently scripted history by winning back-to-back titles with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Having watched him up close as a player and a captain, Harpreet feels his success with RCB comes as no surprise to him.
“Rajat Patidar’s quiet aggression and tactical calmness have always been his strengths, tracing back to his domestic days. While his leadership potential was evident, his ability to seamlessly step into the RCB setup and steer the franchise to back-to-back IPL titles has been a phenomenal development,” the 34-year-old noted.
While Harpreet did not make it to the highest level with Team India, he has forged his own path and is now looking to cement his legacy with the UAE. While the path until now may have been difficult, he will hope that it is smooth ailing from here on, as UAE not just look to make it to their third T20 World Cup this decade, but also stay relevant as far as the road to the 2027 ODI World Cup in concerned.
With the right backing, this is a great opportunity for Harpreet to forge a new chapter in his glorious career.
For more news & updates, follow The Crichub on Instagram, X and YouTube
