Is it in any way possible for the 'Biggest Fixture in Cricket' to ever actually live up to the hype?
To satisfy the wild expectancy of a meeting of a pair of cricket-crazed neighbours, two countries who account for nearly a quarter of the world’s population?
The answer on this occasion was, unequivocally, yes. Shaheen Shah Afridi v Virat Kohli. Jasprit Bumrah v Babar Azam. Mohammed Rizwan v everyone.
India v Pakistan. At a World Cup. In front of a pulsing, manic crowd of people who have been craving the return of live sport, at Dubai International Stadium. It was box-office, and then some.
All the more so for those ticket-holders who were wearing green. The current Covid guidelines mean the matches at the T20 World Cup in UAE have been capped at 70 per cent of the usual capacity.
It is obvious to say Dubai could have sold out its full quota many times over for this game. And yet, even with 30 per cent of seats empty, the atmosphere still crackled more than it ever has before in the 12-year history of this ground in Sports City. More than for any IPL or PSL game. Or even when these same two countries met in the Asia Cup three years back.
It is possible that some might have expected the game to be as one-sided as it ended up being. But never in the direction the traffic ended up flowing in.
Player ratings
This was a World Cup. Between India and Pakistan, there was only ever going to be one winner, surely? World Cup history, it turns out, is bunk.
“Records are made to be broken,” Babar had pointed out on the eve of the match, with an impressive air of understated calm.
He knew the stats. Pakistan in World Cup matches against India: zero wins. Pakistan in T20 internationals against India: one win from eight attempts.
But all that was then, and this is now. Why fuss about stuff that’s past?
Babar himself had played 11 T20 internationals in this country before this game and never lost one. Make that 12.
Pakistan arrived early. They had started their warm up before India had even made it through rush hour traffic and reached the ground.
As India’s players meandered out on to field, and Hardik Pandya did a pre-game interview with the host broadcasters at the boundary line, a member of Pakistan’s tour party wandered to the middle carrying a flag.
He planted it just to the edge of the square, on the side Pakistan were training. There was no great deep meaning to the gesture. It was something Pakistan had done in their warm up matches, too, presumably to motivate their players.
Four hours later, though, it felt as though it had been a statement. As if they were saying: this place is ours.
And for this day at least, it was. Entirely theirs. More or less from the moment the thrilling Shaheen dismissed Rohit Sharma with an unplayable yorker off the fourth ball of the match.
Sure, Kohli fought the good fight, with a half century which anchored his side to what felt a competitive tally of 151-7. He played some scarcely believable shots in the process, one straight six in particular off Shaheen that deserved at least a draw all on its own.
As it turned out, his effort was nowhere near close to being enough. Babar brought all the poise he had shown in the lead in to the game straight to the batting crease, too.
He finished unbeaten on 68, scurrying a two to win it with his effervescent opening partner, Mohammed Rizwan.
Rizwan's contribution had been even more impressive than his vaunted colleague at the other end. He was 79 not out from 55 balls when the victory was sealed.
A 10-wicket win, with 13 balls left over, does not add up to a trophy. These two teams might well yet meet again in this tournament.
But for one night at least, Pakistan were the champions of Dubai.
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.
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
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Ant-Man and the Wasp
Director: Peyton Reed
Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas
Three stars
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Student Of The Year 2
Director: Punit Malhotra
Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal
1.5 stars
Hot%20Seat
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Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
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
'The Lost Daughter'
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Starring: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson
Rating: 4/5
