Akhtar hoping for win over Australia to end isolation



ISLAMABAD // Pakistan's fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar believes beating the world champions Australia in a one-day series later this month would send a message to the cricketing world. Akhtar passed a three-day fitness test last week before he was selected in a 15-man squad for five ODIs against Australia, beginning April 22 in Dubai. "If we beat Australia we can send a strong message that we are a good side and they should come (to Pakistan) and play against us more often," Akhtar said.

A neutral venue is being used because Australia had declined to tour Pakistan on security grounds, even before the terror attack on the Sri Lanka team last month in Lahore that injured seven members of the touring party and left six policemen and a driver dead. Dubai will host the first two games before the series moves to Abu Dhabi for the remaining three matches. Both teams return to Dubai for the only Twenty20 game on May 7.

"I know whatever happened (in Lahore) was not good for Pakistan," Akhtar said. "(But) this coming series is a good opportunity for us to beat a strong team like Australia, which may help us in inviting strong teams to Pakistan and take our country out of isolation." Akhtar, 33, has played just two ODIs since November 2007 due to disciplinary and fitness problems. "Nobody can give a guarantee of fitness in international matches, but I have come into the side after passing a fitness test," he said. "I want to bowl my full quota of 10 overs and enjoy fielding."

Australia will rest three players for the series: the captain Ricky Ponting, the batsman Mike Hussey and the all-rounder Mitchell Johnson. They will be replaced by all-rounders Shane Watson and Andrew Symonds, while paceman Brett Lee was recalled after an ankle injury had ruled him out of the series against South Africa. "Ponting is a great player and so is Hussey, they will surely be missed," Akhtar said. "But Australia have some very good players like Shaun Marsh and Michael Clarke but if the bowlers bowl to their potential, we have a chance to win the series."

Akhtar also backed Pakistan's captain Younus Khan, who replaced Shoaib Malik as skipper in January after Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan 2-1 in a limited-overs series. « "Younus is a very popular man in the dressing room. He does work very hard and leads from the front," Akhtar said. "(Younus' captaincy) is the best thing that has happened to Pakistan and I am very happy with him." Pakistan leave for Dubai on Sunday night and will play a practice match against Pakistan 'B' at the newly built state-of-the-art cricket stadium at Dubai Sports City on Wednesday.

*AP

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Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

Tree of Hell

Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla

Director: Raed Zeno

Rating: 4/5

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Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
The Bio

Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959

Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.

He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses

Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas

His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s

Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business

He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery 

Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all

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MATCH INFO

World Cup qualifier

Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')

UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')

The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable
Amitav Ghosh, University of Chicago Press

Fitness problems in men's tennis

Andy Murray - hip

Novak Djokovic - elbow

Roger Federer - back

Stan Wawrinka - knee

Kei Nishikori - wrist

Marin Cilic - adductor

The biog

Hometown: Cairo

Age: 37

Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror

Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing

Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition

 


 

NO OTHER LAND

Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal

Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham

Rating: 3.5/5

The Brutalist

Director: Brady Corbet

Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn

Rating: 3.5/5

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
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  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
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Emirates exiles

Will Wilson is not the first player to have attained high-class representative honours after first learning to play rugby on the playing fields of UAE.

Jonny Macdonald
Abu Dhabi-born and raised, the current Jebel Ali Dragons assistant coach was selected to play for Scotland at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2011.

Jordan Onojaife
Having started rugby by chance when the Jumeirah College team were short of players, he later won the World Under 20 Championship with England.

Devante Onojaife
Followed older brother Jordan into England age-group rugby, as well as the pro game at Northampton Saints, but recently switched allegiance to Scotland.

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