Sri Lanka's cricketer Nuwan Pradeep (R) successful appeal for leg before wicket (lbw) pas Pakistan's cricketer Kamran Akmal during the first Twenty20 International cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore on October 5, 2019. Sri Lanka, boosted by a career-best half century from opener Danushka Gunathilaka, posted 165-5 against Pakistan in the first Twenty20 international in Lahore. / AFP / ARIF ALI
Sri Lanka's cricketer Nuwan Pradeep (R) successful appeal for leg before wicket (lbw) pas Pakistan's cricketer Kamran Akmal during the first Twenty20 International cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore on October 5, 2019. Sri Lanka, boosted by a career-best half century from opener Danushka Gunathilaka, posted 165-5 against Pakistan in the first Twenty20 international in Lahore. / AFP / ARIF ALI
Sri Lanka's cricketer Nuwan Pradeep (R) successful appeal for leg before wicket (lbw) pas Pakistan's cricketer Kamran Akmal during the first Twenty20 International cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore on October 5, 2019. Sri Lanka, boosted by a career-best half century from opener Danushka Gunathilaka, posted 165-5 against Pakistan in the first Twenty20 international in Lahore. / AFP / ARIF ALI
Sri Lanka's cricketer Nuwan Pradeep (R) successful appeal for leg before wicket (lbw) pas Pakistan's cricketer Kamran Akmal during the first Twenty20 International cricket match between Pakistan and S

Misfiring Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad get Pakistan management's backing


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Pakistan will look to regroup quickly after their shocking 64-run defeat against a depleted Sri Lankan side as they prepare for the second T20 in Lahore on Monday.

Pakistan, the No 1 T20 side, where bowled out for 101 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday and will be desperate to set the record straight.

Two players in particular have landed in the spotlight – the returning Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad; Akmal was playing his first T20 after three years while Shehzad had failed a dope test last year.

However both batsmen failed on Saturday with Akmal out for a golden duck and Shehzad bowled for 4. But Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed said the management has full faith in their abilities.

"If you talk about the previous two domestic seasons, they performed well and they again performed in the PSL," Sarfaraz was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

"We are trying our best to give a complete chance to those who are back. Both are experienced players and once they settle in, they will perform. I give my full backing to them as a captain. When we brought back Ahmed and Umar, we intended to make them play in their preferred positions. With our eyes on the T20 World Cup, if Ahmed is able to settle down at that position, we can never find a better player like him."

On Saturday, Akmal got the unwanted record of the most number of ducks in T20 cricket by a Pakistan batsman - 26. But captain Sarfaraz said he has faith in the batsman.

"We wanted to play Akmal in the position he likes. We played six new players in the side without thinking about winning or losing. We wanted to play them and give them confidence because for any player, making a comeback isn't easy."

For Pakistan, there was one positive – pacer Mohammad Hasnain became only the second Pakistan bowler to register a hat-trick in T20I cricket. He did that across two overs in the Sri Lankan innings and in the process, become the youngest ever to take a T20I hat-trick.

Batti Gul Meter Chalu

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US households add $601bn of debt in 2019

American households borrowed another $601 billion (Dh2.2bn) in 2019, the largest yearly gain since 2007, just before the global financial crisis, according to February data from the New York Federal Reserve Bank.

Fuelled by rising mortgage debt as homebuyers continued to take advantage of low interest rates, the increase last year brought total household debt to a record high, surpassing the previous peak reached in 2008 just before the market crash, according to the report.

Following the 22nd straight quarter of growth, American household debt swelled to $14.15 trillion by the end of 2019, the New York Fed said in its quarterly report.

In the final three months of the year, new home loans jumped to their highest volume since the fourth quarter of 2005, while credit cards and auto loans also added to the increase.

The bad debt load is taking its toll on some households, and the New York Fed warned that more and more credit card borrowers — particularly young people — were falling behind on their payments.

"Younger borrowers, who are disproportionately likely to have credit cards and student loans as their primary form of debt, struggle more than others with on-time repayment," New York Fed researchers said.

Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE

Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:

• Buy second hand stuff

 They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.

• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres

 Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.

• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.

Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.

• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home

Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.

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Sunday Athletic Bilbao v Getafe, 8.15am; Barcelona v Real Betis, 10.15pm; Deportivo v Real Madrid, 12.15am

Monday Levante v Villarreal, 10.15pm; Malaga v Eibar, midnight

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2. Constantin Popovici (ROU) 424.65
3. Oleksiy Prygorov (UKR) 392.30

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