England captain Eoin Morgan said the three-match ODI series against India will be another opportunity for players to make their case for T20 World Cup selection.
The visitors lost a hard-fought T20 series 3-2 but Morgan said the tour is still providing valuable lessons about the tough conditions in the country where the T20 World Cup will be staged in October-November.
Asked whether those on the margins can put themselves in the frame for a spot in the squad at the World Cup, Morgan replied: "Absolutely. Given the squads are very similar, we see both skill sets as very valuable.
"Playing any international cricket is a huge opportunity for guys who have been here on the fringes and not made selection so far. We see the 50-over format between the two T20 World Cups as a building block for our squad.
"It has been an extremely productive tour so far. The biggest picture is always the World Cup in both white-ball formats. You don't always have to win every series in order to win a World Cup.
"You continuously need to get better, need to be tested as a side, need to fail in order to learn. That involves losing, which isn't fun but it is part of the journey."
England are reigning 50-over champions and Morgan said they must prove their worth on all types of surfaces.
"The challenge for us is always trying to explore and push the limits as much as we can given the conditions," said Morgan.
"In conditions that are little bit alien to us naturally, like India, it's always nice to get out of your comfort zone and learn more about your team and your players to try and make mistakes and learn from them."
A lot of attention has been on the Test and T20 legs of the seven-week tour which concludes on Sunday after the last of three ODIs with Jofra Archer, Joe Root and Chris Woakes high-profile absentees.
Moeen Ali was surprisingly unused in each of the five T20s even though he went on a pre-determined break during the Test series to be fresh for white-ball assignments.
But the off-spinning all-rounder, alongside the likes of Sam Billings and Liam Livingstone, may come into the reckoning in Pune this week.
And despite a frustrating time this winter, Morgan has been encouraged by how Moeen has handled himself, saying: "The little period Mo spent at home before this series has done him the world of good.
"He has come back refreshed and with plenty of energy. He is a very relaxed guy who always has a reasonable perspective on life and sport and the role that it plays within society. He is travelling really well.
"Anybody who is an all-rounder and makes the squad is extremely valuable to our side. I know he has not played but that's been circumstantial. The pitches we played on just haven't turned."
Also, logistical challenges to travel routes and an obligatory quarantine period in India have led to Root and Woakes not returning, while Archer's ongoing elbow trouble means the paceman misses this series.
Morgan was reluctant to put a date on Archer's return, saying: "Only time will tell.
"The duty of care is towards the player. He's given his heart and soul to us since he's been involved, so all the care and attention will be given to him in order to get the best result possible."
While Morgan is looking forward to a white-ball opportunity in a World Cup year, his counterpart Virat Kohli did not seem too enthusiastic about playing ODIs when the World Test Championship final and the 20-over showpiece are the main events of 2021.
Kohli said tournament scheduling "is something that is not in our control."
"I think it's very important to consider how much cricket you are playing. It's not just the physical side of thing but the mental side of things as well," said Kohli.
"Scheduling and workloads is something that everyone will have to be very aware," he added. "Especially in today's day and age where you just don't know where restrictions might come in."
The Al Barzakh Festival takes place on Wednesday and Thursday at 7.30pm in the Red Theatre, NYUAD, Saadiyat Island. Tickets cost Dh105 for adults from platinumlist.net
The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
Tenet
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh
Rating: 5/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More coverage from the Future Forum
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The five pillars of Islam
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
More on animal trafficking
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, John Oliver
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
