Jonathan Figy will be looking to make up for lost time as he returns to the UAE fold after more than three and a half years.
The young batsman, who has already represented the senior UAE team at international level, had moved to England on a cricket scholarship to complete his higher studies in 2020.
That done, the left-handed opener was back in Abu Dhabi to resume his cricket and has now earned a place in the UAE A side for the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, which starts on Thursday.
The UAE, drawn in Group B, play India A in their opener on Thursday at the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds in Colombo. Pakistan A and Nepal are the other teams in the group.
“It feels great to be back in the national team. I have been back here training in Abu Dhabi for the last seven or eight months and playing in the domestic competitions,” Figy told The National before his departure to Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
“I have had a pretty good run and this is a great opportunity to play India A, Pakistan A, and Nepal. They are top sides in this tournament and I'm looking forward for the games and good performances as a team.”
Figy, who turns 22 next month, has two ODIs under his belt. He made his debut for the men’s team against Scotland in a Cricket World Cup League 2 match in Dubai in December 2019 and Namibia in the same competition in Oman in January 2020.
Figy also holds the record for being the first UAE batsman to score an Under-19 World Cup century.
Figy, born to Indian parents in Dubai, studied at the Abu Dhabi Indian School before moving to Winchester College in England on a cricket scholarship and later Leeds University.
He returned to the emirates after graduating with a degree in mathematics and statistics, eager to give cricket another go.
“The selectors have picked a virtual U23 squad for this tournament and I think it’s an opportunity for this young team to test their skills against some of the best talents and get a good idea where each one of us stand,” Figy said.
“I am up for it, of course, and want to do well. It’s very competitive to get into the national team with a lot of youngsters around. I have worked hard and believed in the process and kept going at it, and am happy to get this opportunity.”
Figy had been in the reserves for the last few tours and he now makes it into the squad.
“The main thing is the conditioning that I have gone through and I’m aware playing international cricket requires one to be fit and strong, and that’s what I focused on,” he explained.
Figy is also one of the most senior players in the squad led by all-rounder Ali Naseer.
“It’s a good idea for the cricket board to give the youngsters a go at this level and as a senior player on the side I can share my experience and motivate my teammates on the field,” he said.
“The best thing for me is that I know all these players as we have played a lot of cricket together and against each other in the age group tournaments both in domestic competitions and for the UAE. It’s something that will work out well for us.”
The UAE are playing India A in a difficult opener but Figy is relishing the opportunity.
“It can’t get better that playing against India in the first game. I see it as an opportunity for us to play against some of the best sides. Indeed, it’s a challenge but it’s also a good challenge for us.
“I know it’s going to be hard against India A and Pakistan A but we want to play our best cricket, and you never know what could happen. Having said that, it’s an opportunity for us to make the best use of it.”
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
The view from The National
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RESULTS
Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Azizbek Satibaldiev (KYG). Round 1 KO
Featherweight: Izzeddin Farhan (JOR) beat Ozodbek Azimov (UZB). Round 1 rear naked choke
Middleweight: Zaakir Badat (RSA) beat Ercin Sirin (TUR). Round 1 triangle choke
Featherweight: Ali Alqaisi (JOR) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (UZB). Round 1 TKO
Featherweight: Abu Muslim Alikhanov (RUS) beat Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG). Unanimous decision
Catchweight 74kg: Mirafzal Akhtamov (UZB) beat Marcos Costa (BRA). Split decision
Welterweight: Andre Fialho (POR) beat Sang Hoon-yu (KOR). Round 1 TKO
Lightweight: John Mitchell (IRE) beat Arbi Emiev (RUS). Round 2 RSC (deep cuts)
Middleweight: Gianni Melillo (ITA) beat Mohammed Karaki (LEB)
Welterweight: Handesson Ferreira (BRA) beat Amiran Gogoladze (GEO). Unanimous decision
Flyweight (Female): Carolina Jimenez (VEN) beat Lucrezia Ria (ITA), Round 1 rear naked choke
Welterweight: Daniel Skibinski (POL) beat Acoidan Duque (ESP). Round 3 TKO
Lightweight: Martun Mezhlumyan (ARM) beat Attila Korkmaz (TUR). Unanimous decision
Bantamweight: Ray Borg (USA) beat Jesse Arnett (CAN). Unanimous decision
Euro 2020
Group A: Italy, Switzerland, Wales, Turkey
Group B: Belgium, Russia, Denmark, Finland
Group C: Netherlands, Ukraine, Austria,
Georgia/Kosovo/Belarus/North Macedonia
Group D: England, Croatia, Czech Republic,
Scotland/Israel/Norway/Serbia
Group E: Spain, Poland, Sweden,
N.Ireland/Bosnia/Slovakia/Ireland
Group F: Germany, France, Portugal,
Iceland/Romania/Bulgaria/Hungary
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
