In the immediate aftermath of the UAE’s six-wicket loss to Oman on Friday, there was a feeling of resignation rather than depression.
This was just the latest in a long line of defeats in one-day international cricket. Again, it had not even been close. They are used to this.
As the players milled around, picking up errant bits of kit, an administrator sought out the UAE’s team liaison and said the captain would be required for post-match formalities.
The player of the match presentation and captains’ interviews would take place 100 metres or so away, on the other side of the field.
It would be Rahul Chopra’s first one of these, having been instilled as the new captain ahead of this tour to Muscat. He might not know the drill, hence the need for a chaperone to the interview area.
Only he was already there, on his own, waiting for the broadcast team to get set up. He had made the walk under his own steam, without being asked, and without any fuss.
He completed his duties with purpose and as much positivity as he could muster. Yes, the UAE’s ODI cricket is in the doldrums. But he is grateful he has been asked to help solve the issues, and he is certainly up for the challenge.
“The coaches have shown faith and trust in me, and have backed me,” Chopra said. “I am very proud that they believe in me and I am putting in 100 per cent for the team. I have been a captain before so it is not something that is new to me.
“I know how to handle the responsibility, and at the end of the day it is just about bat against ball. It is the same game, so I didn’t feel any difference between playing as a player and as a captain.
“I am happy I have the responsibility. I believe I can do well and we just have to keep it simple and focus on cricket.”
The malaise has been brought about by the long-term failings of the batting line up. Chopra’s performance in his first game in charge was emblematic of the issue.
He made a duck – albeit undone by a fine delivery from leg-spinner Samay Shrivastav – as the UAE collapsed from 98 for three to 128 all out against Oman.
“It is a matter of one game, then everything can change,” Chopra said. “Our bowlers have been doing really well but the batting has not been going according to plan. We have been losing clusters of wickets consistently in recent games, which has been our downfall.
“We are aware of that, and we need to get our act together with the bat. If we can do that, we will be a different team.”
Chopra only debuted for the national team back in February. He had been counting down the days, knowing the exact date he became eligible via the three-year residency rule having relocated to Dubai from India during Covid, and he was eager to get started.
He feels the same restlessness now about helping the team improve, having been picked to lead the side in ODI cricket after Muhammad Waseem stepped down in order to focus on his own batting performance.
Chopra was not the obvious choice to take over from Waseem. Basil Hameed, with years’ worth of international experience, had been the previous vice-captain and led the side in the Emerging Nations Asia Cup.
But the Emirates Cricket Board alighted on Chopra instead. The task facing him is not an easy one. The UAE are the lowest-ranked side among those with ODI status. They have won just one match in the Cricket World Cup League 2 so far, and are bottom of the table.
Next up, in Muscat on Sunday, they face a Netherlands side who have designs on winning this competition. It will not be easy, but the UAE might at least take some solace from the conditions they were met with in the opening game on Friday.
Usually, the Oman Cricket Academy is a batters’ paradise. Yet the pitch for the first game was testing in the extreme, a crumbling dry wicket which took pronounced turn from the off.
The wicket block in Al Amerat has had plenty of traffic of late, with that Emerging Teams Asia Cup taking place. But that has never been an issue before at a ground that is characterised by high scoring.
It might be assumed, therefore, that the home team, Oman – who have issues of their own over player conflict during their recent tour of Canada – have requested pitches that turn. The thinking being that it might help mitigate the threat of the excellent Dutch pace attack.
If the turning conditions that prevailed in the opening game of the tri-series do persist, that might assist a UAE side who have a number of spin options in their squad.
The latest addition to that battery is Dhruv Parashar, who opened both the batting and the bowling in his ODI debut against Oman.
It was with the ball where the 19-year-old off-spinner caught the eye. He took the new ball and ended with figures of two for 16 from his first 10 overs as an ODI cricketer.
“I’m glad they are showing faith in me and backing me to do well and contribute as much as I can to the team,” Parashar said.
“It is a very good feeling and whenever I get my chance in the coming matches I am going to try to grab onto it and give my best.
“Hopefully then we can get one or two wins and completely flip the momentum. The table does not portray at all the potential this team has.
“It is just a matter of clicking. In Namibia [last month], the A-team won a five match series 3-2 including a lot of the same names that are here, and I think it is just a matter of time.
“In the next few games hopefully something is going to click and then there could be no stopping players like Waseem-bhai and Rahul-bhai.
“The unity is there, it is just a matter of time. As soon as we click, it will be a different ballgame.”
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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
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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
Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1
Calvin Harris
Columbia
Six pitfalls to avoid when trading company stocks
Following fashion
Investing is cyclical, buying last year's winners often means holding this year's losers.
Losing your balance
You end up with too much exposure to an individual company or sector that has taken your fancy.
Being over active
If you chop and change your portfolio too often, dealing charges will eat up your gains.
Running your losers
Investors hate admitting mistakes and hold onto bad stocks hoping they will come good.
Selling in a panic
If you sell up when the market drops, you have locked yourself out of the recovery.
Timing the market
Even the best investor in the world cannot consistently call market movements.
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
Indoor Cricket World Cup
Venue Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE squad Saqib Nazir (captain), Aaqib Malik, Fahad Al Hashmi, Isuru Umesh, Nadir Hussain, Sachin Talwar, Nashwan Nasir, Prashath Kumara, Ramveer Rai, Sameer Nayyak, Umar Shah, Vikrant Shetty
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre V6
Power: 295hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
Price: Dh179,999-plus
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm
Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: L/100km
Price: Dh306,495
On sale: now
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
BLACK%20ADAM
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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.
Turning%20waste%20into%20fuel
%3Cp%3EAverage%20amount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20at%20DIC%20factory%20every%20month%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EApproximately%20106%2C000%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAmount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20from%201%20litre%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%20%3Cstrong%3E920ml%20(92%25)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETime%20required%20for%20one%20full%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%20used%20cooking%20oil%20to%20biofuel%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EOne%20day%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EEnergy%20requirements%20for%20one%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%201%2C000%20litres%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%96%AA%20Electricity%20-%201.1904%20units%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Water-%2031%20litres%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Diesel%20%E2%80%93%2026.275%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 3
Sadio Man 28'
Andrew Robertson 34'
Diogo Jota 88'
Arsenal 1
Lacazette 25'
Man of the match
Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
