Indian cricket fans are all set to welcome Rishabh Pant back to the field after the dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman was declared fully fit by the cricket board on Tuesday.
Pant was involved in a near-fatal car crash in December 2022 that required him to undergo multiple surgeries and kept him out of the ODI World Cup on home soil last year.
“After undergoing an extensive 14-month rehab and recovery process, following a life-threatening road mishap, Rishabh Pant has now been declared fully fit as a wicketkeeper batter for the upcoming IPL,” the BCCI said in a statement.
Following the announcement, the 26-year-old posted a picture on Instagram with the caption: “Keep smiling.”
Pant was returning to New Delhi from his hometown Roorkee, a few hours north of the Indian capital, before dawn when his SUV crashed into a road divider and caught fire.
He was taken to hospital before being airlifted to Mumbai for further treatment and surgery.
Pant has been on an intensive rehabilitation programme since surviving the crash with a damaged ligament in his right knee, injured wrist and ankle, and abrasions to his back.
He was replaced as captain of Delhi Capitals by David Warner last year in the IPL.
In his absence, India reached the final of the World Cup last year and also completed a 4-1 Test series win over England earlier this month despite missing a number of other key players, including prolific batter Virat Kohli.
But with Pant regaining fitness, the path has been cleared for his return to all formats of the Indian team and also at the helm of Delhi Capitals.
However, he is expected to find some competition as young keeper Dhruv Jurel and star batter KL Rahul have put up commendable performance in front of and behind the stumps for India.
His return to the IPL, though, comes at an opportune moment as a good season there would cement Pant's spot in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the US that begins right after the T20 league.
Whatever happens, cricket fans will be happy to see Pant back on the field as a keeper and batsman, even though it is likely to take some time to reach his best.
Before the IPL player auction last December, Pant spoke about the challenges he faced during the recovery period.
“The kind of accident I had, I'm lucky to be alive,” he said. “I think it was very challenging, especially the first part I would say more from a physical point of view. There was a lot of pain to be endured.”
The IPL begins on March 22, with defending champions Chennai Super Kings taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore in the opening clash.
Meanwhile, fast bowlers Mohammad Shami and Prasidh Krishna were ruled out of IPL 2024 due to injury. Shami recently underwent surgery on his heel and has been sidelined for an indefinite period.
Fellow pacer Krishna had surgery recently on his quadriceps tendon and is likely to begin his recovery at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
More about Middle East geopolitics
Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Book%20Details
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
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'C'mon C'mon'
Director:Mike Mills
Stars:Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Woody Norman
Rating: 4/5
'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
if you go
The flights
Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com
Seeing the games
Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com
Staying there
Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com
