Rameez Shahzad is craving a return to UAE national duty, saying: “It is always going to be my team”.
The 33-year-old is one of the most successful batsmen in the history of the game here.
He averages over 53 in one-day internationals, and is the only player with two ODI centuries for the UAE.
However, he has been on the outside looking in in the recent past. He has not played an ODI since 2018, and is now without an Emirates Cricket Board central contract.
The loss of his pro deal at the end of last year has had notable effects. He now works part-time in a car showroom, as well as a cricket coach, and has to fit his own training around those commitments.
He has also moved to an apartment near to the cricket grounds in Ajman, from one a similar distance from the UAE’s training base at the ICC Academy in Dubai Sports City.
Despite his altered circumstances, he says he remains passionate about a return to playing for the national team.
He says he watched the ODI series against Ireland in January intently, even wearing his grey UAE shirt while doing so.
“Of course I still want to be involved – it is always going to be my team,” Rameez said.
“I haven’t been training with the UAE team, but I have been working with academies and doing training in my own time. Hopefully I can make a comeback soon.”
When he might get the chance to do so is unclear. The UAE are not scheduled to return to competitive action until August, with a World Cup League Two series against Unites States and Scotland.
However, his appetite to compete for a place is a major boon for a side whose batting resources are increasingly enviable.
I still want to be involved – it is always going to be my team
CP Rizwan showed his merit with a sparkling century when they beat Ireland in January.
Mohammed Wasim will surely debut as soon as he becomes eligible in the coming months, having consolidated the reputation he built in Abu Dhabi T10 with more excellence in the Bukhatir League.
There are also a variety of young batsmen, such as Alishan Sharafu, Aryan Lakra and Vriitya Aravind, who have been spoken about in glowing terms by UAE coach Robin Singh.
“Since Robin has come in he has been making us play lots of 50-over matches, and that is a good thing,” Rameez said.
“That is not something we did before. If the current team can play together a lot, then they will be able to understand each other’s mentalities a lot better.
“You need to adapt, and learn how to switch your game between the formats, too.”
Rameez caught the eye himself in the Bukhatir League, playing a role in guiding the team to Friday’s final, which they eventually lost to InterGlobe Marine.
Despite missing the early pool matches because of any ankle injury, he was straight up to speed with an innings of 71 on his return to action.
He followed that with a 64-ball century in the quarter final – an innings which he said was unintentionally fast.
“I actually wasn’t planning to play an aggressive knock like that,” Rameez said. “I just wanted to rotate the strike, and get back into the 50-over format mentality.
“I just kept looking for singles, then when I got past 50, the overs were finishing and I needed to play aggressive shots.
“That’s what 50-over cricket is about. It is not about just hitting fours and sixes. It is important to focus on singles, because once you go a level higher, it is not going to be the same.
“The wickets are not going to be the same, the bowlers are not going to be the same, so you can’t rely only on boundaries. You need to know how to rotate strike.”
Rameez believes he has some ideas to offer if he does earn a recall to the national team.
“The mentality is just to try to hit boundaries,” he said. “Even when we do that and get 300, imagine the number of dot balls there are in that.
“Look at the UAE side’s matches against Ireland, and see how many dot balls they faced.
"We need to look to stop doing that, try to rotate every ball, and take the boundaries when they come as well.”
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%3Cp%3EBy%202030%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%20aims%20to%20achieve%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%2039.3%20million%20visitors%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20nearly%2064%25%20up%20from%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%20Dh90%20billion%20contribution%20to%20GDP%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20about%2084%25%20more%20than%20Dh49%20billion%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%20178%2C000%20new%20jobs%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20bringing%20the%20total%20to%20about%20366%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%2052%2C000%20hotel%20rooms%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20up%2053%25%20from%2034%2C000%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%207.2%20million%20international%20visitors%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20almost%2090%25%20higher%20compared%20to%202023's%203.8%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%203.9%20international%20overnight%20hotel%20stays%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2022%25%20more%20from%203.2%20nights%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Asia Cup 2018 final
Who: India v Bangladesh
When: Friday, 3.30pm, Dubai International Stadium
Watch: Live on OSN Cricket HD
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The biog
DOB: 25/12/92
Marital status: Single
Education: Post-graduate diploma in UAE Diplomacy and External Affairs at the Emirates Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi
Hobbies: I love fencing, I used to fence at the MK Fencing Academy but I want to start again. I also love reading and writing
Lifelong goal: My dream is to be a state minister
Company profile
Company: Verity
Date started: May 2021
Founders: Kamal Al-Samarrai, Dina Shoman and Omar Al Sharif
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Size: four team members
Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000
Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
