Naseem Shah’s excellence can help Pakistan cover absence of Shaheen Afridi – Babar Azam


Paul Radley
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Babar Azam is confident Naseem Shah will suffer no lasting effects of the cramp which saw him hobble from the field at the end of Pakistan’s loss to India in the Asia Cup on Sunday night.

Pakistan’s captain also reckons the lionhearted teenager can help make up for the absence of Shaheen Afridi in the tournament in the UAE.

The 19-year-old fast bowler made an eye-catching start to life in T20 international cricket, as he fired out KL Rahul for a golden duck at the Dubai International Stadium.

Thanks to his efforts, Pakistan made a plucky defence of a total of 147 which always seemed under par.

The toil took its toll on the young quick. He limped to the wicket throughout most of his final over, had to have treatment for cramp, and left the field as soon as his bowling effort was done.

Pakistan face Hong Kong next on Friday in Sharjah. Babar expects Naseem to be fit and ready to lead the attack again, and think he is key to his side's prospects.

“Naseem bowled well at the start, he took crucial wickets and bowled well in the death as well,” Babar said.

“We missed Shaheen [who is out with a posterior cruciate ligament injury] but he never let us feel his absence. It was his confidence that made him bowl like that.”

Hardik Pandya of India hits the winning runs. Getty Images
Hardik Pandya of India hits the winning runs. Getty Images

India eventually sealed a five-wicket win with two balls to spare after Hardik Pandya hit left-arm spinner Mohammed Nawaz for six. Babar rued a slow beginning to Pakistan’s batting effort.

“The way we started we were 10-15 runs short,” Babar said.

“We came back thanks to our outstanding fast bowling. [No 11 Shahnawaz] Dahani stepped up with the bat which really gave us something to defend, but it’s a shame we couldn't finish it off.

"We wanted to have 15 or so to defend for Nawaz [in the last over], but that wasn’t to be and Pandya finished it off wonderfully."

Pandya’s heroics capped quite the turnaround. Last year, he was stretchered off the field as India were thrashed by 10 wickets by the same opposition in the T20 World Cup.

Since then, he has become an Indian Premier League winning captain, and he exuded confidence as he marshalled India through a nervy run chase.

“I knew they had Nawaz waiting to bowl, and while we needed seven, even if we needed 15 I would have fancied my chances,” Pandya said.

“I feel the bowler is under a lot more pressure than me. I just needed one six in that final over. I try to keep things simple.”

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While you're here
While you're here
Scores

New Zealand 266 for 9 in 50 overs
Pakistan 219 all out in 47.2 overs 

New Zealand win by 47 runs

Anxiety and work stress major factors

Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.

A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.

Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.

One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.

It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."

Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.

“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi. 

“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."

Daniel Bardsley

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UAE squad

Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.

UAE tour of Zimbabwe

All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I

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Price, base / as tested: Dh186,480 / Dh252,735

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder

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'Panga'

Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari

Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta

Rating: 3.5/5

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1987

1954

1921

1888

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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

Pakistan Super League

Previous winners

2016 Islamabad United

2017 Peshawar Zalmi

2018 Islamabad United

2019 Quetta Gladiators

 

Most runs Kamran Akmal – 1,286

Most wickets Wahab Riaz –65

Basquiat in Abu Dhabi

One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. 

The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier. 

It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.  

“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. 

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

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UK's plans to cut net migration

Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.

Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.

But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.

Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.

Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.

The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.

The Specs:

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Updated: August 29, 2022, 5:31 AM