West Indies' Alick Athanaze (R) celebrates after scoring a half-century (50 runs) during the third one-day international (ODI) cricket match between the United Arab Emirates and West Indies at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah on June 9, 2023. (Photo by KARIM SAHIB / AFP)
West Indies' Alick Athanaze (R) celebrates after scoring a half-century (50 runs) during the third one-day international (ODI) cricket match between the United Arab Emirates and West Indies at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah on June 9, 2023. (Photo by KARIM SAHIB / AFP)
West Indies' Alick Athanaze (R) celebrates after scoring a half-century (50 runs) during the third one-day international (ODI) cricket match between the United Arab Emirates and West Indies at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah on June 9, 2023. (Photo by KARIM SAHIB / AFP)
West Indies' Alick Athanaze (R) celebrates after scoring a half-century (50 runs) during the third one-day international (ODI) cricket match between the United Arab Emirates and West Indies at the Sha

Alick Athanaze makes history on debut as West Indies seal clean sweep against UAE


Paul Radley
  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE might have given debuts to a raft of teenagers in their series against the West Indies, but it was the opposition’s young charges who stole the show on the final night.

The tourists sealed a 3-0 clean sweep with a four-wicket win over the national team in Sharjah.

Having sealed the series three days earlier, West Indies shuffled their pack and handed starts to some of the players who had spent the opening two one-day internationals carrying drinks.

Kevin Sinclair, 23, was the first of them to shine. The off-spinner, playing just his fourth ODI, took four wickets to bring about a remarkable capitulation by the home team.

The UAE had enjoyed their finest start of the series and, for the first time, appeared set to challenge their illustrious opposition.

Vriitya Aravind made a dapper 70 in 75 balls, and shared in stands worth 69, for the second wicket, with Muhammad Waseem, and 55 with Rameez Shahzad for the third.

UAE were powerfully placed with Vriitya and Rameez at the wicket and the score on 142-2.

Their demise from there, though, was startling. First, Sinclair had the latter caught and bowled, and promptly ran off and executed a sumptuous backflip to celebrate.

The former was involved in two run outs, and UAE were unable to stem the bleeding. They lost eight wickets for the addition of just 42 in less than 14 overs, as they were shot out for 184.

If Sinclair’s contribution was eye-catching, what followed from Alick Athanaze was even more spectacular.

On debut, the 24-year-old opener blazed 65 in 45 balls. His innings comprised the equal-fastest half century by an ODI debutant, matching the 26 balls it took Krunal Pandya to reach the same milestone against England.

After the start he gave them, the tourists made quick work of the run chase, even if UAE's bowlers did enjoy some success.

Aayan Khan and Mohammed Jawadullah, on debut, took two wickets apiece, and Karthik Meiyappan did similar in consecutive deliveries. But West Indies sealed the win with 14.5 overs to spare.

The biog

Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi

Favourite TV show: That 70s Show

Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving

Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can

Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home

Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big

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.

The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands

The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands

50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias

Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match

WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura

Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe

United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal

SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos

Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt

Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho

Singles match John Cena v Triple H

Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v tba

Tips to avoid getting scammed

1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday

2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment

3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone

4) Try not to close the sale at night

5) Don't be rushed into a sale 

6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour

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Stage 2

1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix 4:18:30

2. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:06

3.  Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma 0:00:06

4. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:06

5. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:08

Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.

Based: Riyadh

Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany

Founded: September, 2020

Number of employees: 70

Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions

Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds  

Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices

SANCTIONED
  • Kirill Shamalov, Russia's youngest billionaire and previously married to Putin's daughter Katarina
  • Petr Fradkov, head of recently sanctioned Promsvyazbank and son of former head of Russian Foreign Intelligence, the FSB. 
  • Denis Bortnikov, Deputy President of Russia's largest bank VTB. He is the son of Alexander Bortnikov, head of the FSB which was responsible for the poisoning of political activist Alexey Navalny in August 2020 with banned chemical agent novichok.  
  • Yury Slyusar, director of United Aircraft Corporation, a major aircraft manufacturer for the Russian military.
  • Elena Aleksandrovna Georgieva, chair of the board of Novikombank, a state-owned defence conglomerate.
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Duminy's Test career in numbers

Tests 46; Runs 2,103; Best 166; Average 32.85; 100s 6; 50s 8; Wickets 42; Best 4-47

Updated: June 09, 2023, 6:20 PM`