Shadab Khan and Azam Khan will join Shaheen Afridi at Desert Vipers for the second season of the DP World International League T20.
The Pakistan trio will bolster a franchise looking to improve on their runners-up finish in the opening campaign of the T20 competition in Dubai earlier this year.
Having unveiled Shaheen earlier this month, the Vipers announced his compatriots were joining, as well as a number of other new signings, on Monday.
Leg-spin bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan has captained Pakistan in 20-over cricket in the past.
Azam, the big hitting wicketkeeper-batter, had been the first Pakistani player recruited by the ILT20 last year.
However, the Pakistan Cricket Board opted against releasing their players for that event. Now, though, they have issued 'no objection' certificates to their players, meaning Azam is available to take up his place with the Vipers.
Tom Moody, the Vipers director of cricket, said the new signings are not just about strengthening their playing resources, but are also with a view to increasing the side’s fanbase.
“We are certainly looking at all our options to continue to build the strongest squad we possibly can, but more importantly to build a team that is not only going to take it one step further in 2024 and not only play in a final but win a final,” Moody said.
“We are also looking to build a squad that our growing fan-base are going to look forward to supporting. The more support we have on the other side of the fence the greater the heights the team can reach.”
Moody praised Shadab’s capabilities as an all-rounder, and said he has a “growing reputation as a respected leader”, and he described Azam as “a real threat”.
“He is a genuine power-hitter that can take the game in a breathtaking way away from the opposition,” the Australian coach said of Azam.
“We look forward to having him as an impact player in the middle-order to join the likes of [Guyanese batter] Sherfane Rutherford, who has continued to show his high level of excellence in the tournament in Canada recently.”
Azam, who is a well-travelled T20 franchise player, featured in Pakistan’s side for internationals against Afghanistan in Sharjah earlier this year. He says he is eager to return to play in the Emirates.
“The UAE fans are crazy about cricket and last season the atmosphere was amazing,” Azam said.
“I am looking forward to this season and hoping to put on some good performances in the tournament.”
Pakistani cricket fans might also appreciate another of the new Vipers recruits, Bas de Leede.
The Dutch all-rounder who was hit in the face by a Haris Rauf bouncer at the T20 World Cup last year, but then played a key role in the Netherlands win over South Africa which helped send Pakistan through to the semi-final in that tournament.
De Leede has swapped from MI Emirates, where he played just one ILT20 game last season.
“Last year we came very close to winning the title and got pipped at the post,” Colin Munro, the Vipers captain, said.
“With the additional players that we have brought in, adding to our retained players, it puts us in a really strong position in the next edition."
The%20Beekeeper
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HAEMOGLOBIN DISORDERS EXPLAINED
Thalassaemia is part of a family of genetic conditions affecting the blood known as haemoglobin disorders.
Haemoglobin is a substance in the red blood cells that carries oxygen and a lack of it triggers anemia, leaving patients very weak, short of breath and pale.
The most severe type of the condition is typically inherited when both parents are carriers. Those patients often require regular blood transfusions - about 450 of the UAE's 2,000 thalassaemia patients - though frequent transfusions can lead to too much iron in the body and heart and liver problems.
The condition mainly affects people of Mediterranean, South Asian, South-East Asian and Middle Eastern origin. Saudi Arabia recorded 45,892 cases of carriers between 2004 and 2014.
A World Health Organisation study estimated that globally there are at least 950,000 'new carrier couples' every year and annually there are 1.33 million at-risk pregnancies.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi
Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni
Rating: 2.5/5
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
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.
Bugatti Chiron Super Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,600hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.4seconds
0-200kph in 5.8 seconds
0-300kph in 12.1 seconds
Top speed: 440kph
Price: Dh13,200,000
Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,500hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.3 seconds
0-200kph in 5.5 seconds
0-300kph in 11.8 seconds
Top speed: 350kph
Price: Dh13,600,000
Company%20Profile
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes
The package
Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January
The info
Visit www.gokorea.co.uk
Squads
Pakistan: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Babar Azam (vc), Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hasnain, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz
Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Minod Bhanuka, Angelo Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara
More on animal trafficking
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
RESULT
Wolves 1 (Traore 67')
Tottenham 2 (Moura 8', Vertonghen 90 1')
Man of the Match: Adama Traore (Wolves)
