India, April 20 -- Former Uttar Pradesh stalwart and ex-India under-19 cricketer Akshdeep Nath has been granted UAE citizenship, paving the way for his representing the team in international tournaments with the 2027 ODI World Cup a target.

The 28-year-old middle-order batter, once a promising talent in domestic cricket, received UAE citizenship as a special case after showing his batting prowess in local matches there over the last five months.

Nath is currently with the UAE side to play in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 matches in Nepal, which is hosting a tri-series against Oman and the UAE from April 25 to May 5, followed by matches against the USA and Scotland. These matches are vital for UAE's path to the World Cup, with all g...