The TU International Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu was well over capacity for the Cricket World Cup League 2 match between the UAE and Nepal on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Subas Humagain for The National
The TU International Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu was well over capacity for the Cricket World Cup League 2 match between the UAE and Nepal on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Subas Humagain for The National
The TU International Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu was well over capacity for the Cricket World Cup League 2 match between the UAE and Nepal on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Subas Humagain for The National
The TU International Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu was well over capacity for the Cricket World Cup League 2 match between the UAE and Nepal on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Subas Humagain for The National

Images of unprecedented crowd in Nepal for ODI against UAE go viral


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Thursday's Cricket World Cup League 2 clash between Nepal and the UAE had a lot riding on it, so it came as no surprise that the crowd poured in to watch the ODI.

Nepal had retained their ODI status earlier when they crushed the UAE by 177 runs in their previous game in Kathmandu. On Thursday, both sides were playing for bigger rewards down the road.

The UAE are already set to play at the World Cup Qualifier Play-off in Namibia, which starts later this month. If they beat Nepal today, both sides will move to the tournament in Windhoek.

However, if the Nepal secure victory, they will advance directly to the global World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe in the summer.

Given the importance attached to the game, supporters took up every single available spot at the TU International Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu. The capacity of the venue is around 18,000 but well over that number crowded the grass embankments around the ground. Many thousands more were seen outside the ground.

However, it was the UAE who took the initiative in the all-important game. Captain Muhammad Waseem and young batsman Vriitya Aravind hit quick fifties, before Asif Khan smashed a UAE record 41-ball century to propel the team to 310-6.

Emergency phone numbers in the UAE

Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

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
The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

Singham Again

Director: Rohit Shetty

Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone

Rating: 3/5

War and the virus
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Fight card

Preliminaries:

Nouredine Samir (UAE) v Sheroz Kholmirzav (UZB); Lucas Porst (SWE) v Ellis Barboza (GBR); Mouhmad Amine Alharar (MAR) v Mohammed Mardi (UAE); Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) v Spyro Besiri (GRE); Aslamjan Ortikov (UZB) v Joshua Ridgwell (GBR)

Main card:

Carlos Prates (BRA) v Dmitry Valent (BLR); Bobirjon Tagiev (UZB) v Valentin Thibaut (FRA); Arthur Meyer (FRA) v Hicham Moujtahid (BEL); Ines Es Salehy (BEL) v Myriame Djedidi (FRA); Craig Coakley (IRE) v Deniz Demirkapu (TUR); Artem Avanesov (ARM) v Badreddine Attif (MAR); Abdulvosid Buranov (RUS) v Akram Hamidi (FRA)

Title card:

Intercontinental Lightweight: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) v Angel Marquez (ESP)

Intercontinental Middleweight: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) v Francesco Iadanza (ITA)

Asian Featherweight: Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) v Phillip Delarmino (PHI)

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Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

Updated: March 16, 2023, 10:59 AM`