In a spectacular first showing, the UAE baseball national team, formed just 30 days before the event, took second place in the inaugural Baseball United Arab Classic. The team won five games, losing only to top-ranked Pakistan in the championship held at the new Baseball United Ballpark at The Sevens.
During group play, the UAE team defeated India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. In the quarterfinals, they overcame Saudi Arabia, who were also making their international debut. The UAE continued their success by defeating a strong Palestine team, thanks to shortstop Chris Beyers, whose game-changing home run led the team to victory.
The UAE outscored opponents by 23 runs throughout the tournament, with standout performances from Beyers, Lorenzo Riddle, and Gabriel Reque, who all earned All-Tournament Team honors.
The UAE’s national team was developed after Baseball United’s Chairman, Kash Shaikh, worked with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to establish a national baseball program. The ECB granted Baseball United the rights in October 2024 to oversee the UAE team, recognizing Baseball United’s expertise and dedication to the sport.
“I am incredibly proud of this historic team,” said Shaikh. “It’s amazing to see the UAE on the baseball map. From our management to the players, everyone has shown the UAE’s vision and values through this sport.”
Eddie Diaz, the team’s manager and a Hall of Fame coach, has an impressive career spanning four decades, including time with the New York Yankees and as a scout and manager in Mexico. Diaz has won two Caribbean Series titles, a top professional tournament in Latin America.
“Kash often says we made history,” shared Diaz. “Our team proudly represented the UAE. Most of these players have spent their lives here, and they wore the UAE’s name with pride.”
The UAE national team follows World Baseball Classic (WBC) eligibility rules, allowing a broader range of players, including local residents and those with strong family ties to the UAE, to participate.
With over 600 million fans, baseball ranks as a top five sport worldwide, and it’s set to make an Olympic return at Los Angeles 2028. Baseball United, founded by Shaikh in 2022 alongside MLB legends Barry Larkin and Mariano Rivera, continues to elevate the sport, with 20 MLB icons, including Adrian Beltre and Albert Pujols, investing in the league.
