A major multi-nation tournament is around the corner and India are among the top contenders for the main prize. We are not talking about the ODI World Cup, but the Asian Games instead.
The rescheduled 2022 Hangzhou Games run from September 23 to October 8 and the cricket section will be held in T20 format.
The men’s cricket competition of the Games concludes two days after the start of the ODI World Cup in India, which means the top sides are sending second-choice squads.
India are among the countries who are represented at the Asian Games in cricket. Other familiar names include Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
This year, lesser known cricket nations of Mongolia, Cambodia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong will hope to create an upset or two and make it to the medal rounds.
Cricket was first introduced in the Asian Games in 2010 and even though the spotlight will be in neighbouring India for the World Cup, the return of T20 cricket at the Asian Games will be worth celebrating.
The matches will take place at the Zhejiang University of Technology Pingfeng Cricket Field.
Asian Games men’s competition:
September 27: Mongolia v Nepal (5am UAE time) & Cambodia v Japan (10am)
September 28: Malaysia v Singapore (5am) & Maldives v Mongolia (10am)
September 29: Cambodia v Hong Kong (5am) & Singapore v Thailand (10am)
October 1: Maldives v Nepal (5am) & Hong Kong v Japan (10am)
October 2: Malaysia v Thailand (5am)
October 3: Quarter-final stage – India v TBC (5am) & Pakistan v TBC (10am)
October 4: Sri Lanka v TBC (5am) & Bangladesh v TBC (10am)
October 6: Semi-finals (5am & 10am)
October 7: Third place play-off (5am) & Final (10am)
Top contenders
India and Pakistan will be among the favourites at the Asian Games. Both nations will be sending players with significant experience in international and T20 cricket. However, the unknown nature of surfaces in Hangzhou and the unique dimensions of the ground will make for interesting viewing.
Among the most prominent names in the competition will be IPL stars Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rinku Singh. All three players have already made their international debuts and will now get a chance to win a medal for their country.
Pakistan will rely on familiar names such as batsmen Asif Ali and Haider Ali, as well as fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani and spinner Usman Qadir.
Below are the squads of the main teams that have been announced so far.
India men’s squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rahul Tripathi, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Shivam Mavi, Shivam Dube, Prabhsimran Singh (wk)
Pakistan men’s squad: Qasim Akram (captain), Omair Bin Yousuf, Aamir Jamal, Arafat Minhas, Arshad Iqbal, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Mirza Tahir Baig, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Akhlaq (wk), Rohail Nazir, Shahnawaz Dahani, Sufiyan Muqeem and Usman Qadir
Sri Lanka squad: Sahan Arachchige (captain), Lasith Croospulle, Shevon Daniel, Ashen Bandara, Lahiru Udara (wk), Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Ravindu Fernando, Ranitha Liyanarachchi, Nuwanidu Fernando, Sachitha Jayatilaka, Lahiru Samarakoon, Nimesh Vimukthi, Nuwan Thushara, Isitha Wijesundera
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ABU DHABI CARD
5pm: UAE Martyrs Cup (TB) Conditions; Dh90,000; 2,200m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap; Dh70,000; 1,400m
6pm: UAE Matyrs Trophy (PA) Maiden; Dh80,000; 1,600m
6.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Apprentice Championship (PA) Prestige; Dh100,000; 1,600m
7pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Ladies World Championship (PA) Prestige; Dh125,000; 1,600m
8pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Group 1; Dh5,000,000; 1,600m
UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)
Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)
Saturday
Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Sunday
Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)
Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)
Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)
Scores:
Day 4
England 290 & 346
Sri Lanka 336 & 226-7 (target 301)
Sri Lanka require another 75 runs with three wickets remaining
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Brief scores:
Manchester City 2
Gundogan 27', De Bruyne 85'
Crystal Palace 3
Schlupp 33', Townsend 35', Milivojevic 51' (pen)
Man of the Match: Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace)
