No one said it was going to be easy. But even the most pragmatic Pakistan cricket fans would not have expected such a painful beginning to a supposedly new era in their white-ball cricket.
Barring one match in the five-match T20 series in New Zealand which went their way, and in some style one must say, Pakistan struggled to compete as the hosts romped to a 4-1 series triumph on Wednesday.
It was the same story in the fifth T20 in Wellington as Pakistan struggled batting first, crawling to 128-9. Captain Salman Agha, leading a new-look team filled with promising youngsters, scored a fifty but it was not even close to being enough.
New Zealand chased down the target in exactly 10 overs with eight wickets in hand. Player of the series Tim Seifert (97 from 38 balls) completed the match by smashing experienced spinner Shadab Khan for four sixes, taking his match tally to 10.
Even for neutral fans, it was painful to watch Pakistan's young team be brushed aside by a New Zealand team missing many of their first-choice players due to the ongoing IPL.
Granted, Pakistan were expected to experience some difficulty having embarked upon a new path in their T20 journey, moving away from the tried and tested Babar Azam and Mohamad Rizwan and giving younger talent an opportunity.
But the manner of defeat in the New Zealand T20 series raises more concern than hope. The team in green got bowled out for 91 in the first match, conceded 200 twice, and did not look like containing New Zealand at any point, barring the third match.
There in Auckland, an audacious century by inexperienced opener Hasan Nawaz saw Pakistan chase down 205 in just 16 overs.
That match not only kept the series alive but also suggested Pakistan were warming up to the modern ethos of T20 batting. In the next match they were given another 200-plus target but were bowled out for 105.
The lopsided contest ended on Wednesday the same way it had started - Pakistan failing to get any momentum batting first and posting a sub-par total.
Seamer Jacob Duffy (2-18) started the rout when he removed Hasan for his third duck in the series, capping a strange outing for the opener.
The swing and bounce generated by New Zealand's frontline pacers was too much for Pakistan and they quickly found themselves 52-5. Captain Agha and Shadab put on 54 for the sixth wicket to add some respectability to the total.
Shadab made 28 off 20 balls while Salman hit 51 from 39. Both fell to all-rounder Jimmy Neesham, who finished with impressive figures of 5-22, his maiden five-wicket haul in T20Is.
Then Seifert ended the contest in double quick time, even threatening to score a century while chasing just 129.
After the match, captain Salman said the series was a steep learning curve.
"We had some positives and we will take away that. Hasan batted well, Sufiyan (Muqeem, spinner) did well. We know it's a young side. We will give them more games and when they have experience they will come good," the captain said.
It is the path ahead that looks treacherous for Pakistan. The main events on their radar are the Asia Cup in September and the T20 World Cup early next year in India and Sri Lanka.
Wednesday's series defeat is just the latest in a long list of painful setbacks for Pakistan, which includes embarrassing performances in the last two ICC events - the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy - and regular defeats to non-Test playing nations.
While young players and teams need to be given as much time as they need, Pakistan must be careful as they can't afford to keep losing in the name of learning.
Already, there is a fear in Pakistan that if the T20 team, which is currently ranked seventh in the world, continues to lose, they could face the ignominy of playing World Cup qualifiers in the near future.
While that prospect is a long way away and unlikely to materialise, the fact that conversations like that are being had means it might be time to acknowledge the scale of their problems, while somehow still being patient with a young team.
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
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Tour de France
When: July 7-29
UAE Team Emirates:
Dan Martin, Alexander Kristoff, Darwin Atapuma, Marco Marcato, Kristijan Durasek, Oliviero Troia, Roberto Ferrari and Rory Sutherland
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
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The five pillars of Islam
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
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- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
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