As the clock ticked past 11pm on Sunday night, Hamza Tahir was still buzzing. No wonder the adrenaline was racing.
Moments earlier, the Glaswegian spin-bowler had clinched victory for Scotland in a classic one-day international against Oman via a stunning catch under the “ring of fire” floodlights at Dubai International Stadium.
He had celebrated by tearing around the outfield. He was met with the imposing presence of his spin partner Mark Watt, who cleaned him out, prompting a euphoric pile on by the rest of their teammates.
For the second time in two days, Tahir had played a key role in victory for Scotland. The previous night, he had been similarly outstanding with the ball, and started off with an extraordinary, one-handed diving caught and bowled, as Scotland beat Papua New Guinea.
This time he had asphyxiated Oman with his left-arm spin, before adding the glorious exclamation mark with the catch that settled a thrilling four-run win.
And all fuelled by a couple of glasses of water. For the first time in his life, Tahir is on tour during the Holy Month. He is fasting on all but the four match days Scotland have during their Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series.
“On game days I carry on as normal but still try to eat less because when you are fasting your stomach shrinks,” Tahir said. “On game days I have not eaten, I have just had a couple of glasses of water. I’m fasting again tomorrow, and looking forward to it.
“Spiritually, I feel really good. I am praying as much as I can. It’s great because staying in a hotel means you can pray as much as possible. I feel that has a big impact on your life.
“The more you pray, the clearer your mind is. I feel like that has really helped my game the past couple of days. Fasting during this trip has been amazing.”
Particularly so given the tour destination is the UAE, he says. On Friday, which was the day before Scotland’s opening tour match, he and Safyaan Sharif, his Scotland teammate, attended prayers at a mosque near the team hotel in Umm Suqeim.
“It was the first Friday prayers of Ramadan, and it was a full house,” Tahir said. “It was nice to see. It is the first time I have ever been away while fasting.
“In the past, I have always been at home and fasting during the cricket season. It has been different. Here, everyone is doing the same thing.”
Back to back matches in the rising heat of early summer in Dubai has been an exhausting effort for all the players, even if Scotland’s fielding stints against PNG and Oman were both in the relative cool of the evening.
The timing of the matches have meant the innings break has coincided with iftar. Kyle Coetzer, the Scotland captain, has been amazed by how Tahir and Sharif have excelled given their altered diets at present.
“It is their decision how they want to manage it and they are doing it exceptionally well, to be honest,” Coetzer said. “We have a huge amount of respect for how they do it because it is certainly not an easy thing. It is amazing to see their discipline.”
When Tahir took the winning catch late in the night against Oman, his popularity was clear to see given the ensuing bundle.
Coetzer said his teammates appreciate both the value of his performances on the playing field, as well as all the hard work he has put in off it.
“He is an extremely popular member of the side,” Coetzer said of Tahir. “I think that is because of the amount of effort Hamza has put in. In terms of his fielding, he has worked extremely hard on it.
“In the past couple of games, he has stopped pretty much everything that has come to him. His fitness is incredible compared to where he was a couple of years ago.
“People who put in the effort the way Hamza has, they are going to get a lot of backing from their teammates. Everyone just wants him to do well.
“We are extremely proud of him and he deserves what he is getting. If you put the effort in the results will come your way.”
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Qosty Byogaani
Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny
Four stars
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
South and West: From a Notebook
Joan Didion
Fourth Estate
Read more about the coronavirus
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
RESULTS
Men – semi-finals
57kg – Tak Chuen Suen (MAC) beat Phuong Xuan Nguyen (VIE) 29-28; Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) by points 30-27.
67kg – Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Huong The Nguyen (VIE) by points 30-27; Narin Wonglakhon (THA) v Mojtaba Taravati Aram (IRI) by points 29-28.
60kg – Yerkanat Ospan (KAZ) beat Amir Hosein Kaviani (IRI) 30-27; Long Doan Nguyen (VIE) beat Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) 29-28
63.5kg – Abil Galiyev (KAZ) beat Truong Cao Phat (VIE) 30-27; Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Norapat Khundam (THA) RSC round 3.
71kg – Shaker Al Tekreeti (IRQ) beat Fawzi Baltagi (LBN) 30-27; Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Man Kongsib (THA) 29-28
81kg – Ilyass Hbibali (UAE) beat Alexandr Tsarikov (KAZ) 29-28; Khaled Tarraf (LBN) beat Mustafa Al Tekreeti (IRQ) 30-27
86kg – Ali Takaloo (IRI) beat Mohammed Al Qahtani (KSA) RSC round 1; Emil Umayev (KAZ) beat Ahmad Bahman (UAE) TKO round
Specs
Engine: 2-litre
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 255hp
Torque: 273Nm
Price: Dh240,000
RESULT
Everton 2 Huddersfield Town 0
Everton: Sigurdsson (47'), Calvert-Lewin (73')
Man of the Match: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton)
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg (first-leg score):
Manchester City (0) v Tottenham Hotspur (1), Wednesday, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
More coverage from the Future Forum
FIXTURES
Nov 04-05: v Western Australia XI, Perth
Nov 08-11: v Cricket Australia XI, Adelaide
Nov 15-18 v Cricket Australia XI, Townsville (d/n)
Nov 23-27: 1ST TEST v AUSTRALIA, Brisbane
Dec 02-06: 2ND TEST v AUSTRALIA, Adelaide (d/n)
Dec 09-10: v Cricket Australia XI, Perth
Dec 14-18: 3RD TEST v AUSTRALIA, Perth
Dec 26-30 4TH TEST v AUSTRALIA, Melbourne
Jan 04-08: 5TH TEST v AUSTRALIA, Sydney
Note: d/n = day/night
Takreem Awards winners 2021
Corporate Leadership: Carl Bistany (Lebanon)
Cultural Excellence: Hoor Al Qasimi (UAE)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Bkerzay (Lebanon)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Raya Ani (Iraq)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Women’s Programs Association (Lebanon)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Osamah Al Thini (Libya)
Excellence in Education: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) (Qatar)
Outstanding Arab Woman: Balghis Badri (Sudan)
Scientific and Technological Achievement: Mohamed Slim Alouini (KSA)
Young Entrepreneur: Omar Itani (Lebanon)
Lifetime Achievement: Suad Al Amiry (Palestine)
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
