Only two players – Rohit Sharma and Mushfiqur Rahim – are still involved from the last time Pakistan staged an Asia Cup, back in 2008.
The fact they only have a part share in this year’s tournament means Rohit will not be heading back there this time, with India’s matches all scheduled for Sri Lanka instead.
One family will be represented again, though. Abdullah Shafique is part of the Pakistan squad for the tournament, which starts on Wednesday, 15 years after his uncle, Arshad Ali, played in the competition.
Rather than the green of Pakistan, Arshad was wearing the grey of UAE.
He had moved from Sialkot to Dubai for work when he turned 18. He landed a job on the strength of his cricket, and within fours years had qualified to play for his adopted homeland via the ICC’s residency criteria.
He represented the national team with distinction for years, with his zenith being the qualifying tournament for the 2008 Asia Cup.
Arshad was the top run scorer in that event in Malaysia, including 213 not out in a pool match against Brunei.
The UAE won the competition, and – along with losing finalists Hong Kong – were rewarded with a place at the Asia Cup.
Seven of the 15-player UAE squad for the tournament were Pakistani nationals, and Arshad said it was the realisation of a dream for each of them.
“We were going back home, to our own people, our own ground, where we had dreamed of playing when we were young,” Arshad said.
“It is like Australians wishing to play at Melbourne [Cricket Ground] and English people wishing to play at Lord’s. You want to go and play a game at the top level at Qaddafi Stadium if you are from Pakistan.
“We were so excited, and we had a good team, with guys like [captain] Saqib Ali and Khurram Khan. It was a big achievement.”
The UAE lost out in their pool matches in Lahore to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, who were the eventual champions.
Although each of the UAE players had day jobs, he said they were not overawed by going up against greats of the game like Muttiah Muralitharan, Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara.
“I came to UAE when I was young, 18 years old, and put all my hard work in here,” Arshad said.
“I would go to Sharjah Stadium, practice and practice, in the hope one day we could go back and play in our land.
“Luckily when we qualified for the Asia Cup, it was being played in Pakistan. We thought, ‘Let’s go.’
“We were never nervous. We didn’t care that we were playing against big players. We just wanted to play the game.
“We had four or five tough players, but then a few other new players who were a little confused. That is natural when you go to a bigger level.
“Once you get to the crease and start hitting singles and doubles, and getting boundaries, then you start to feel settled.”
Arshad, who now works in the HR department of Emirates airline, did not quite reprise his form from the qualifier when it came to the main event.
He made 41 in the opener against Bangladesh and was then run out by Chamara Kapugedera for just six in the game against the Sri Lankans.
“I was so disappointed,” he said. “It was a very good pitch at Qaddafi Stadium but I was run out by a direct hit.
“It was so sad. The Lahore pitch comes onto the bat well. In three balls against Nuwan Kulasekara I hit six runs. We were chasing 290 but said, ‘Whatever, let’s try to get the runs.’
“I hit the ball to cover and Kapugedera, who was a very good fielder, dived to his left and the ball went directly into his hand.
“I thought as I was running, ‘Oh, man.’ He hit directly, and I thought, ‘That’s bad luck.’”
Not all of Arshad’s family were able to make the two-hour trip from Sialkot to Lahore to watch him in action, but his sister, who was studying in the city, did come along.
“I was calling all my family members to come and watch,” Arshad said. “Now Abdullah is doing the same, calling us and saying, ‘Please come to watch.’
“I’ve been to some PSL matches of his when he was young in Dubai, but he didn’t get an opportunity. But hopefully we can see him soon here in Dubai for some international matches.”
23-man shortlist for next six Hall of Fame inductees
Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Eric Cantona, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Viera, Ian Wright.
'Downton Abbey: A New Era'
Director: Simon Curtis
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan
Rating: 4/5
Western Clubs Champions League:
- Friday, Sep 8 - Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Bahrain
- Friday, Sep 15 – Kandy v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
- Friday, Sep 22 – Kandy v Bahrain
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Opening day UAE Premiership fixtures, Friday, September 22:
- Dubai Sports City Eagles v Dubai Exiles
- Dubai Hurricanes v Abu Dhabi Saracens
- Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
