The first UAE cricketer to play in a world leading T20 franchise competition might have had Pakistan Super League debut to forget. But, at least, Zahoor Khan proved to be a lucky charm for Quetta Gladiators.
The fast bowler became the first player from the Emirates to feature in one of the sport's big leagues when he made the starting lineup for Quetta's meeting with Lahore Qalandars at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
His personal contribution did not pan out anything like he might have dreamed it would. He was not brought on until Lahore had been reduced to 68-7, and were completely out of the chase for the 159 they needed to win.
Even in such an overwhelming position of dominance, it was understandable that Zahoor might feel nerves when he was eventually handed his chance to bowl.
Playing on this sort of stage is the sort of thing all UAE players aspire to do.
Three players had head starts on him. Chirag Suri was part of the Gujarat Lions squad at the 2017 Indian Premier League, while Mohammed Wasim and Sultan Ahmed are also drafted to sides in this PSL.
Zahoor, though, was the first of them to make it onto the field as a starter. His elevation to that point was rapid.
The organisers announced he had been called into Quetta’s squad as a replacement player for their star Jamaican allrounder Andre Russell less than an hour before the start of the game.
At that point, Zahoor was already out on the field warming up with his new teammates.
Within 20 minutes, the teamsheets confirmed he had gone from not even being involved, to playing.
Sure, he has tasted something like this level of cricket before. He was given his chance with Quetta broadly on the basis of his excellence over the years in the Abu Dhabi T10, while he could also lean on his experiences as a net bowler for Mumbai Indians for the duration of the IPL last year.
His jitters appeared to be asphyxiating, though, after he came on as the sixth Quetta bowler to be used.
His second ball disappeared for four. He bowled a high, looping bouncer. And the last two balls of his ill-fated over were dispatched for huge sixes by Tim David.
The batsman himself has proved it is possible to take to top-flight T20 cricket, even if you do come from beyond the sport’s mainstream. The 25-year-old, son of an Australian, represents Singapore, the country of his birth, in international cricket.
He does, though, have plenty of experience of playing in the Big Bash League to lean on. Hence his excellence so far since joining Lahore for the rescheduled, Abu Dhabi leg of this PSL has hardly been a surprise.
While David sparkled in making 46, the damage was too much for Lahore. They fizzled out for 140.
All of which meant that, although the evening was a personal disappointment, Zahoor could at least lay claim to being part of the lineup as Quetta picked up just their second win of the season.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
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BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP
Group A
Paraguay
Japan
Switzerland
USA
Group B
Uruguay
Mexico
Italy
Tahiti
Group C
Belarus
UAE
Senegal
Russia
Group D
Brazil
Oman
Portugal
Nigeria
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Moonfall
Director: Rolan Emmerich
Stars: Patrick Wilson, Halle Berry
Rating: 3/5
%3Cp%3EThe%20Department%20of%20Culture%20and%20Tourism%20-%20Abu%20Dhabi%E2%80%99s%20Arabic%20Language%20Centre%20will%20mark%20International%20Women%E2%80%99s%20Day%20at%20the%20Bologna%20Children's%20Book%20Fair%20with%20the%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Translation%20Conference.%20Prolific%20Emirati%20author%20Noora%20Al%20Shammari%2C%20who%20has%20written%20eight%20books%20that%20%20feature%20in%20the%20Ministry%20of%20Education's%20curriculum%2C%20will%20appear%20in%20a%20session%20on%20Wednesday%20to%20discuss%20the%20challenges%20women%20face%20in%20getting%20their%20works%20translated.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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MOTHER%20OF%20STRANGERS
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Who: France v Italy
When: Friday, 11pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports