When two UAE-based students were asked if they could take a break from their studies to go and live and train with Kolkata Knight Riders instead, the answers they gave were swift and predictable.
They started with: are you serious? And were promptly followed by: yes. Yes, please.
The relocating of the Indian Premier League to the UAE for a second time in two years has brought a number of logistical challenges for the teams.
Kolkata have leaned on some local knowledge in their home away from home, having recruited net bowlers from Abu Dhabi.
When the franchise’s team manager asked Oscar Nauhaus, the head coach of Zayed Cricket Academy, if he could recommend anyone, he knew exactly who to call.
Nauhaus got on WhatsApp to two fast bowlers and former captains of ZCA, Raees Ayan, 21, and Sailles Jaishankar, 18.
“At first I could not believe him, and even now, it is like a fan-boy moment for me,” Ayan said. “I can’t believe that I am here with the players.”
Jaishankar, too, jumped at the chance, which he describes as a “privilege”.
“When Oscar asked if I wanted to be a net bowler, I said, ‘Of course’ and took the opportunity with both hands,” Jaishankar said.
“It is a privilege to be in the same environment as these guys. More than anything, I was just grateful for the opportunity. This sort of thing doesn’t come along that often.”
The duo have been in the team bio-bubble in Abu Dhabi since the end of last month, and will stay until the action gets under way next week. And, according to their coach, they have been doing their home town proud.
“From my side, it was simple and straightforward because they are two kids with good attitudes, who will put the work in and learn,” Nauhaus said.
It is a privilege to be in the same environment as these guys. This sort of thing doesn’t come along that often
Sailles Jaishankar
“They can be trusted to do themselves justice. I am in contact with them every day or two, making sure they are OK, but KKR have looked after them really well.
“I’ve seen them bowling and obviously they are not as quick as 25-26 year old men, but they have been holding their own.”
Coincidentally, both players have coming back from serious injuries over the past year or so.
Ayan suffered a stress fracture in his lower back near the start of the pandemic, while Jaishankar had five months out with an Achilles complaint.
The latter, who now lives in Dubai and dovetails his studies at Heriot-Watt University with being a cricket scholar at the ICC Academy, is thankful to have a stint training with his heroes.
“The training sessions have been amazing,” said Jaishankar, who is aspiring to represent the UAE at the Under 19 World Cup next year.
“We have got some really good tips from the pace bowlers who are around us.
“I bowled to one of my idols, Dinesh Karthik. To be able to bowl five overs at him, I was really grateful for the opportunity. It was a great feeling when I nicked him off once.
“He is a really nice guy, someone who treats everyone the same, and doesn’t see the status of a person. He is good to everyone.”
Obviously the celebration has to be inward. You can’t celebrate getting a wicket
Raees Ayan after bowling out Dinesh Karthik in a net session
Ayan, too, says he managed to get the prize scalp of wicketkeeper-turned-commentator-extraordinaire Karthik, after his return from the UK to join his IPL franchise.
As much of a thrill as that was, Ayan said he did his best to suppress it. “Obviously the celebration has to be inward,” Ayan, who is studying for a commerce degree in his time away from cricket, said. “You can’t celebrate getting a wicket.”
Both of the players say they have found a like mind in Kuldeep Yadav, the India spinner, given that they have whiled away time with him by playing Fifa.
And the whole experience has steeled their ambition to one day make it back to the IPL as players in their own right.
“Any Indian’s dream is to represent the country, or to play at franchise level,” Jaishankar said.
“Looking at our idols playing in the IPL, and now being in the bubble with them, seeing how they go about things, it is obviously a dream to want to do that, too. Having done this, even more so.”
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Pots for the Asian Qualifiers
Pot 1: Iran, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China
Pot 2: Iraq, Uzbekistan, Syria, Oman, Lebanon, Kyrgyz Republic, Vietnam, Jordan
Pot 3: Palestine, India, Bahrain, Thailand, Tajikistan, North Korea, Chinese Taipei, Philippines
Pot 4: Turkmenistan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Yemen, Afghanistan, Maldives, Kuwait, Malaysia
Pot 5: Indonesia, Singapore, Nepal, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Guam, Macau/Sri Lanka
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
The specs: 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Price, base: Dh198,300
Engine: 2.0L in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 280hp @ 5,250rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7L / 100km
Two-step truce
The UN-brokered ceasefire deal for Hodeidah will be implemented in two stages, with the first to be completed before the New Year begins, according to the Arab Coalition supporting the Yemeni government.
By midnight on December 31, the Houthi rebels will have to withdraw from the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Al Saqef, coalition officials told The National.
The second stage will be the complete withdrawal of all pro-government forces and rebels from Hodeidah city, to be completed by midnight on January 7.
The process is to be overseen by a Redeployment Co-ordination Committee (RCC) comprising UN monitors and representatives of the government and the rebels.
The agreement also calls the deployment of UN-supervised neutral forces in the city and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure distribution of aid across the country.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULT
Brazil 2 Croatia 0
Brazil: Neymar (69'), Firmino (90' 3)
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
