The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is likely to resume on June 4 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, after an intensive week of negotiations resulted in confirmation the event could go ahead in Abu Dhabi.
No spectators will be permitted entry to the matches. But the fact the competition will be going ahead at all is a triumph born from an extensive push by a variety of authorities in the capital in the five days since the end of the Eid holiday.
The T20 league was suspended at the start of March in Pakistan after a number of Covid cases were reported within the teams.
The remaining 20 matches were rescheduled, with a plan to start on June 1 in Karachi.
However, as coronavirus cases surged across the subcontinent, the six franchises lobbied the Pakistan Cricket Board to consider the UAE as a replacement venue instead.
On May 8, the request was made from the PCB to the Emirates Cricket Board to host the event, with Abu Dhabi seen as the most likely host for a single-venue competition.
Although the request was gladly received, events related to the pandemic immediately conspired against the proposal.
On May 10, it was announced that commercial flights from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal would all be stopped with two days.
The respective governing bodies persisted with planning, undeterred by the challenges.
On May 11 the proposal was completed and submitted to the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, but that was only considered on May 16, the first working day after the Eid break.
We are delighted with this development as the remaining hurdles have been overcome
It took less than four working days – and nights, with calls being made as late as 1am at points this week – for the plans to be pared down, approved, and a decree issued.
The efforts appeared to have been in vain when it was announced on Wednesday that the franchises were bracing for a further postponement of the competition.
A decision to that effect was said to be likely, unless the teams “receive clarity” on a number of logistical issues by “close of business on Thursday”.
However, well before that deadline it was confirmed the competition would go ahead, as planned, in Abu Dhabi.
“We are delighted with this development as the remaining hurdles in the staging of the remaining HBL PSL 6 matches in Abu Dhabi have been overcome and all systems are now good to go,” Wasim Khan, the PCB chief executive, said.
“We are grateful to the UAE government, National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, [ECB] and Abu Dhabi Sports Council for their support and patronage in ensuring all final obstacles were removed, which has firmly put us in a position to complete our marquee event.”
Even though UAE football has taken its first steps to reintroduce crowds, there will not be any fan attendance at the PSL matches.
A limited number of supporters were permitted entry to the President’s Cup final at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on Sunday, in line with public health guidelines.
However, the application to the government authorities about staging the PSL did not include provision for supporters, given all the other logistical issues which already need to be navigated.
Those challenges still remain. While the bulk of the players will be flown in from Pakistan on charter flights from Lahore and Karachi, ahead of a quarantine period in their hotels on Saadiyat Island, other staff – including broadcast personnel - will be flying in from elsewhere.
The teams are having to revise their overseas player and coaching pools – even following the redraft for replacement players last month.
It is possible the altered conditions could lead to call ups for some of the UAE’s outstanding players.
“I take this opportunity to thank my staff for their untiring efforts and hard work that included sacrificing their Eid-ul-Fitr holidays in an effort to ensure the PCB honours its commitment to its fans to hold the remaining matches of the tournament in June,” Khan said.
“The holding of the remaining matches in Abu Dhabi will allow our fans to once again follow and support their favourite players and teams through our high-quality broadcast coverage of one of the most competitive cricket leagues in the world.”
Poacher
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Tuesday (UAE kick-off times)
Leicester City v Brighton (9pm)
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United (11.15pm)
Wednesday
Manchester United v Sheffield United (9pm)
Newcastle United v Aston Villa (9pm)
Norwich City v Everton (9pm)
Wolves v Bournemouth (9pm)
Liverpool v Crystal Palace (11.15pm)
Thursday
Burnley v Watford (9pm)
Southampton v Arsenal (9pm)
Chelsea v Manchester City (11.15pm)
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
More on animal trafficking
MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Brighton, Sunday, 6pm UAE
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
Personalities on the Plate: The Lives and Minds of Animals We Eat
Barbara J King, University of Chicago Press
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THE BIO
Age: 33
Favourite quote: “If you’re going through hell, keep going” Winston Churchill
Favourite breed of dog: All of them. I can’t possibly pick a favourite.
Favourite place in the UAE: The Stray Dogs Centre in Umm Al Quwain. It sounds predictable, but it honestly is my favourite place to spend time. Surrounded by hundreds of dogs that love you - what could possibly be better than that?
Favourite colour: All the colours that dogs come in
Result
Qualifier: Islamabad United beat Karachi Kings by eight wickets
Fixtures
Tuesday, Lahore: Eliminator 1 - Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators
Wednesday, Lahore: Eliminator 2 – Karachi Kings v Winner of Eliminator 1
Sunday, Karachi: Final – Islamabad United v Winner of Eliminator 2
Race card
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
MATCH INFO
FA Cup final
Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
Results
- Brock Lesnar retained the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns
- Braun Strowman and Nicolas won the Raw Tag Team titles against Sheamus and Cesaro
- AJ Styles retained the WWE World Heavyweight title against Shinsuke Nakamura
- Nia Jax won the Raw Women’s title against Alexa Bliss
- Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon beat Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
- The Undertaker beat John Cena
- The Bludgeon Brothers won the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos and New Day
- Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle beat Triple H and Stephanie McMahon
- Jinder Mahal won the United States title against Randy Orton, Rusev and Bobby Roode
- Charlotte retained the SmackDown Women’s title against Asuka
- Seth Rollins won the Intercontinental title against The Miz and Finn Balor
- Naomi won the first WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal
- Cedric Alexander won the vacant Cruiserweight title against Mustafa Ali
- Matt Hardy won the Andre the Giant Battle Royal
