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.”
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine 2.4L four-cylinder
Gearbox Nine-speed automatic
Power 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.4L/100km
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
RoboCop%3A%20Rogue%20City
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETeyon%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENacon%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%205%2C%20Xbox%20Series%20X%2FS%20and%20PC%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
PAST 10 BRITISH GRAND PRIX WINNERS
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2012 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2011 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
2010 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2008 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2007 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
Britain's travel restrictions
- A negative test 2 days before flying
- Complete passenger locator form
- Book a post-arrival PCR test
- Double-vaccinated must self-isolate
- 11 countries on red list quarantine
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
Stormy seas
Weather warnings show that Storm Eunice is soon to make landfall. The videographer and I are scrambling to return to the other side of the Channel before it does. As we race to the port of Calais, I see miles of wire fencing topped with barbed wire all around it, a silent ‘Keep Out’ sign for those who, unlike us, aren’t lucky enough to have the right to move freely and safely across borders.
We set sail on a giant ferry whose length dwarfs the dinghies migrants use by nearly a 100 times. Despite the windy rain lashing at the portholes, we arrive safely in Dover; grateful but acutely aware of the miserable conditions the people we’ve left behind are in and of the privilege of choice.
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
Smart words at Make Smart Cool
Make Smart Cool is not your usual festival. Dubbed “edutainment” by organisers Najahi Events, Make Smart Cool aims to inspire its youthful target audience through a mix of interactive presentation by social media influencers and a concert finale featuring Example with DJ Wire. Here are some of the speakers sharing their inspiration and experiences on the night.
Prince Ea
With his social media videos accumulating more half a billion views, the American motivational speaker is hot on the college circuit in the US, with talks that focus on the many ways to generate passion and motivation when it comes to learning.
Khalid Al Ameri
The Emirati columnist and presenter is much loved by local youth, with writings and presentations about education, entrepreneurship and family balance. His lectures on career and personal development are sought after by the education and business sector.
Ben Ouattara
Born to an Ivorian father and German mother, the Dubai-based fitness instructor and motivational speaker is all about conquering fears and insecurities. His talk focuses on the need to gain emotional and physical fitness when facing life’s challenges. As well managing his film production company, Ouattara is one of the official ambassadors of Dubai Expo2020.
'Morbius'
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Stars: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona
Rating: 2/5
'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'
Rating: 3/5
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Mads Mikkelson, Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Jude Law
