Played 19, won 13, lost five, and tied one. As always with cricket, the bare stats scarcely tell the whole story of what has happened to UAE cricket over the past six-and-a-bit weeks.
In the space of 44 days, the national team played more than three times the amount of cricket they did in the whole of 2021, when Covid restricted them to a mere six games.
By the end of it, they were running on fumes, yet still managed to put Nepal away and grab two more precious points towards qualifying for the next 50-over World Cup.
In the space of those 44 days, UAE had achieved their primary aim. Namely, booking a place at the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year after reaching the final – and dominating that, too – in the Qualifier in Muscat.
They got another trophy, besides, by winning a T20 quadrangular series involving Oman, Nepal and Ireland.
For the first time, one of their players was nominated for the ICC’s monthly award. Vriitya Aravind, the student wicketkeeper-batsman, was robbed of the title of player of the month for February by India’s Shreyas Iyer. But, still, to be mentioned in such company represents progress.
Chirag Suri might have joined him among the nominees, so good was his form last month. Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa and Junaid Siddique should figure heavily in the thinking for the March award, too, given their exploits in back-to-back series in Cricket World Cup League 2.
These are heady times for the country’s leading cricketers. And just a little bit tiring, too, according to captain Ahmed Raza.
“It is not so much physical as mental,” Raza said. “We had a tough month in the World Cup Qualifier.
“We started off playing against Oman [in a bilateral one-day international series in which UAE won twice and tied the other]. They were really, really close games, and that takes its toll as well.
“After 19 games, I think we’ve earned a break. We haven’t achieved everything we wanted in terms of the goals we set ourselves. But we are happy to take five wins out of eight.”
Raza rated his side’s achievements as “eight out of 10” over the packed period of matches. Muscat represented mission accomplished, but he felt there had been points there for the taking in two defeats to Oman, and one to Papua New Guinea, in the 50-over league games played in Dubai.
“The Oman losses will hurt me more than the PNG game,” Raza said.
“We didn’t really turn up for the PNG game, but those points dropped against Oman will hurt me a lot more because we were right in those games. I could have won one of them for my team.
“Five wins out of eight is still a top effort, especially for the fast bowlers who performed day in, day out, right up to the last day of the series. That takes a hell of a lot of effort.”
It might not be a unique situation for them this year, either. Before heading off for holidays after the tri-series involving Nepal and PNG, UAE’s players were being booked in to attend the United States embassy as part of the visa process for their next World Cup league assignment. They are set to face USA and Scotland in Florida at the end of May.
August and September could be a hefty workload depending on how they fare in Asia Cup qualifying. They are due to fly straight from a 50-over tri-series in Scotland to Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup Qualifier with Kuwait, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Navigate that, and they would be pitted into competition with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
All of which would be the precursor to playing at the T20 World Cup in Australia in October.
As Raza points out, the stress on fast bowlers will be particularly acute. Happily for the national team, their quicks excelled given the extra workload of late.
In particular, Siddique, a fast bowler who was deprived cricket at the start of 2021 because of lower back injury, but who has bounced back to become the leader of UAE’s attack.
In the final game of the series of 19, he produced a ball to dismiss Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee which he deemed the best he has ever bowled in his life. That was one of a haul of four wickets in the game, his best yet in ODI cricket.
“Producing such a spell right at the end of the run of 19 games takes a lot of skill and a lot of heart,” Raza said.
“Junaid has proven he is our main strike bowler with the kind of starts he has given us.”
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.
Federer's 19 grand slam titles
Australian Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Marat Safin; 2006 bt Marcos Baghdatis; 2007 bt Fernando Gonzalez; 2010 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Rafael Nadal
French Open (1 title) - 2009 bt Robin Soderling
Wimbledon (8 titles) - 2003 bt Mark Philippoussis; 2004 bt Andy Roddick; 2005 bt Andy Roddick; 2006 bt Rafael Nadal; 2007 bt Rafael Nadal; 2009 bt Andy Roddick; 2012 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Marin Cilic
US Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Lleyton Hewitt; 2005 bt Andre Agassi; 2006 bt Andy Roddick; 2007 bt Novak Djokovic; 2008 bt Andy Murray
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
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."
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Most%20ODI%20hundreds
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Awar Qalb
Director: Jamal Salem
Starring: Abdulla Zaid, Joma Ali, Neven Madi and Khadija Sleiman
Two stars
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Sunday's games
All times UAE:
Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace, 4pm
Manchester City v Arsenal, 6.15pm
Everton v Watford, 8.30pm
Chelsea v Manchester United, 8.30pm
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Honeymoonish
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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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
