As the business development manager for Sharjah cricket, Khalid Shah was always due to be heading into the office this Friday afternoon, and expected to work late.
His role involves overseeing cricket operations at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, included in which has been the running of the 46th Bukhatir League, the country’s oldest and best-regarded cricket tournament.
His excellence on the field, though, means he will not be consigned to desk duties.
Instead, he will be lining up as a key figure in Bukhatir XI’s pursuit of the title in the final against InterGlobe Marine.
On Wednesday night, Shah scored his maiden century in the competition. It paved the way for a huge, 241-run win over Atlas Foundation in the second semi-final.
The fixture finished at around midnight, and Shah was permitted a late start the following morning as a reward.
“The Bukhatir League is one of the best tournaments in the entire region, so it was my dream to score a hundred in it,” Shah said.
“A lot of people think I am just a T10 or T20 batsman, but yesterday I proved them wrong. It was a hundred in 108 balls.
“Scoring it in such a big event, in the semi-final to help take your team to the final, I think is a big achievement for a cricketer.”
The left-handed batsman is one of six brothers – and coincidentally the only one of them not to have been born in the UAE.
When he reached three figures, his name was being chanted from the seats in front of the newly extended Royal Box, from where his mother blew him a kiss.
“My parents were there yesterday, so it was quite an emotional moment,” Shah said.
“It was my first Bukhatir League hundred, and even my first 50.”
After Shah’s effort from No 3 in the batting order, Fayyaz Ahmed blazed a century in just 49 balls to lead Bukhatir XI to an imposing total of 358-6 from 50 overs.
Atlas Foundation were blown away in reply, as they crumbled to 117 all out in the 30th over.
Their demise was brought about by the 15-year-old left-arm spinner Ayan Afzaal Khan, who took 5-24.
Waiting for them in the final will be InterGlobe Marine, who eased past Phoenix Medicine by seven wickets in the first semi-final.
Hazrat Luqman took five wickets and Rahul Sharma, the former India leg-spinner, took three as Phoenix were bowled out for 191.
Mohammed Wasim then continued his blistering form from the Abu Dhabi T10 as he made 114 in 69 balls to make short work of the run chase.
“When you are playing the final of a 50-over tournament, one thing is for sure – the two teams are the best teams,” Shah said.
“Our team is well balanced. IGM’s team is well balanced. It will be a clash of the titans. They have good bowlers who are in form, but Khalaf [Bukhatir, the team manager] tells us one thing: play the ball not the bowler.”
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
2021 World Triathlon Championship Series
May 15: Yokohama, Japan
June 5: Leeds, UK
June 24: Montreal, Canada
July 10: Hamburg, Germany
Aug 17-22: Edmonton, Canada (World Triathlon Championship Final)
Nov 5-6 : Abu Dhabi, UAE
Date TBC: Chengdu, China
More coverage from the Future Forum
SOUTH%20KOREA%20SQUAD
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
'Nope'
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jordan%20Peele%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Daniel%20Kaluuya%2C%20Keke%20Palmer%2C%20Brandon%20Perea%2C%20Steven%20Yeun%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WORLD RECORD FEES FOR GOALKEEPERS
1) Kepa Arrizabalaga, Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea (£72m)
2) Alisson, Roma to Liverpool (£67m)
3) Ederson, Benfica to Manchester City (£35m)
4) Gianluigi Buffon, Parma to Juventus (£33m)
5) Angelo Peruzzi, Inter Milan to Lazio (£15.7m
Employment lawyer Meriel Schindler of Withers Worldwide shares her tips on achieving equal pay
Do your homework
Make sure that you are being offered a fair salary. There is lots of industry data available, and you can always talk to people who have come out of the organisation. Where I see people coming a cropper is where they haven’t done their homework.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate
It’s quite standard to negotiate if you think an offer is on the low side. The job is unlikely to be withdrawn if you ask for money, and if that did happen I’d question whether you want to work for an employer who is so hypersensitive.
Know your worth
Women tend to be a bit more reticent to talk about their achievements. In my experience they need to have more confidence in their own abilities – men will big up what they’ve done to get a pay rise, and to compete women need to turn up the volume.
Work together
If you suspect men in your organisation are being paid more, look your boss in the eye and say, “I want you to assure me that I’m paid equivalent to my peers”. If you’re not getting a straight answer, talk to your peer group and consider taking direct action to fix inequality.
Voy!%20Voy!%20Voy!
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
