Before this week, it had been four-and-a-half years since Rameez Shahzad last played one-day international cricket.
In the intervening time he had lost his professional contract, taken work in a car showroom, gained weight, and seen his dream of returning to play with his mates for his country gradually diminish.
All of which made his remarkable, match-clinching half-century for UAE against Canada at the Wanderers in Windhoek all the more stunning.
The six-wicket win in the Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off could be a seminal moment for cricket in the UAE. It means they are now within touching distance of retaining one-day international status, and it has breathed life into their aspirations of making it to the global Qualifier in Zimbabwe in June.
Singling out Rameez, who ended on 53 not out after hitting the winning runs, for all the praise would be harsh on a team full of heroes.
Sanchit Sharma and Junaid Siddique were thrifty with the new ball. Zahoor Khan took two wickets on his 50th ODI appearance for the UAE, and Aayan Khan, the young whizz-kid of UAE cricket, took three.
In pursuit of 255 to win, Muhammad Waseem (80) and Aryan Lakra (53) laid the platform with a 134-run alliance for the first wicket.
But the acclaim with which Rameez was welcomed back to the UAE dressing room told its own story.
“To be honest, I wasn’t sure [if I would play again],” Rameez said.
“I had been training, and I would like to thank the management for giving me another chance. I have been working hard for the past three or four months.
“The fitness isn’t there yet. I am still working at it. This was a really good innings to play once you are back in the side.
“I would like to thank my father [former UAE bowler Shahzad Altaf], who has always backed me, and my good friend Salman Farooq for their support.”
As if any extra poignancy were needed, the fact Rohan Mustafa was his partner at the other end when victory was sealed provided it.
The duo, along with assistant coach Ahmed Raza, have been stalwarts of UAE cricket for the best part of two decades, stretching back to when they played with and against each other as schoolboys in Sharjah.
Their affinity with each other softened the blow when Mustafa dealt out some choice words to Rameez, encouraging him to battle through pain.
Rameez’s running was inhibited by a thigh strain and a blister, each of which was evidence of a lack of game time of late.
“I was swearing at him, telling him he had to run,” Mustafa said, of their unbroken 64-run partnership.
“I said to him that it was not just about winning this game, it is about all of UAE cricket. It is about ODI status. When we retire, we need to leave something behind for the youngsters.
“These few hours of the game are very important for UAE cricket.
“I was telling him he had to run every ball. He said he had pain, but I said to forget about the pain and just run. That was it, and he did a very good job.”
UAE now face another must-win tie with hosts Namibia at United Sports Club on Sunday. Whether Rameez can be patched up and get back out on the field remains to be seen.
He is hopeful, though, and is glad of the fact they have infused life into their chase for a place in the Play-off’s top two.
“Playing under pressure has always been a thing for me,” Rameez said.
“I have always found that I am at my best when I do that. Batting in the previous two games shows that I still need practice.
“It is about my body movement, and I am not sure about the shots I can play right now. I am still trying to get to my best.
“We have won two and lost one. Three games are gone. What’s past is past and we are just going to give our best in the next two games and try to make it to Zimbabwe.”
SHAITTAN
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Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness'
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams
Rating: 3/5
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
The%20specs%20
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The biog
DOB: March 13, 1987
Place of birth: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia but lived in Virginia in the US and raised in Lebanon
School: ACS in Lebanon
University: BSA in Graphic Design at the American University of Beirut
MSA in Design Entrepreneurship at the School of Visual Arts in New York City
Nationality: Lebanese
Status: Single
Favourite thing to do: I really enjoy cycling, I was a participant in Cycling for Gaza for the second time this year
ICC T20 Rankings
1. India - 270 ranking points
2. England - 265 points
3. Pakistan - 261 points
4. South Africa - 253 points
5. Australia - 251 points
6. New Zealand - 250 points
7. West Indies - 240 points
8. Bangladesh - 233 points
9. Sri Lanka - 230 points
10. Afghanistan - 226 points
Fresh faces in UAE side
Khalifa Mubarak (24) An accomplished centre-back, the Al Nasr defender’s progress has been hampered in the past by injury. With not many options in central defence, he would bolster what can be a problem area.
Ali Salmeen (22) Has been superb at the heart of Al Wasl’s midfield these past two seasons, with the Dubai club flourishing under manager Rodolfo Arrubarrena. Would add workrate and composure to the centre of the park.
Mohammed Jamal (23) Enjoyed a stellar 2016/17 Arabian Gulf League campaign, proving integral to Al Jazira as the capital club sealed the championship for only a second time. A tenacious and disciplined central midfielder.
Khalfan Mubarak (22) One of the most exciting players in the UAE, the Al Jazira playmaker has been likened in style to Omar Abdulrahman. Has minimal international experience already, but there should be much more to come.
Jassim Yaqoub (20) Another incredibly exciting prospect, the Al Nasr winger is becoming a regular contributor at club level. Pacey, direct and with an eye for goal, he would provide the team’s attack an extra dimension.
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The results of the first round are as follows:
Qais Saied (Independent): 18.4 per cent
Nabil Karoui (Qalb Tounes): 15.58 per cent
Abdelfattah Mourou (Ennahdha party): 12.88 per cent
Abdelkarim Zbidi (two-time defence minister backed by Nidaa Tounes party): 10.7 per cent
Youssef Chahed (former prime minister, leader of Long Live Tunisia): 7.3 per cent
Company%20profile
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Gender equality in the workplace still 200 years away
It will take centuries to achieve gender parity in workplaces around the globe, according to a December report from the World Economic Forum.
The WEF study said there had been some improvements in wage equality in 2018 compared to 2017, when the global gender gap widened for the first time in a decade.
But it warned that these were offset by declining representation of women in politics, coupled with greater inequality in their access to health and education.
At current rates, the global gender gap across a range of areas will not close for another 108 years, while it is expected to take 202 years to close the workplace gap, WEF found.
The Geneva-based organisation's annual report tracked disparities between the sexes in 149 countries across four areas: education, health, economic opportunity and political empowerment.
After years of advances in education, health and political representation, women registered setbacks in all three areas this year, WEF said.
Only in the area of economic opportunity did the gender gap narrow somewhat, although there is not much to celebrate, with the global wage gap narrowing to nearly 51 per cent.
And the number of women in leadership roles has risen to 34 per cent globally, WEF said.
At the same time, the report showed there are now proportionately fewer women than men participating in the workforce, suggesting that automation is having a disproportionate impact on jobs traditionally performed by women.
And women are significantly under-represented in growing areas of employment that require science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills, WEF said.
* Agence France Presse
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
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Superpower%20
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Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Results
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LIVERPOOL%20TOP%20SCORERS
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Company%20profile
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Company%20Profile
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