Shahnawaz Hakim Yousuf has witnessed Abu Dhabi's cricket infrastructure rise from makeshift sandy grounds to the spectacular Zayed Cricket stadium.
He has seen the skyline in Abu Dhabi change dramatically during his 46 years in the capital city. However, the time has come for him to return to his native Pakistan after retiring from his role as operations manager at Abu Dhabi Cricket.
Shahnawaz, 63, said his heart will always remain in Abu Dhabi even though he has to relocate to the country of his birth.
"I spent the best part of my life in Abu Dhabi and returning with bags and bags of good memories," he told The National as he prepares to leave in the next week or two.
“I will cherish the good memories of Abu Dhabi for the rest of my life. I was very fortunate to live my life around cricket. It was my passion from my childhood days.
“I have made lifelong friends in the sport, including international cricketers and cricket officials from my time at the Zayed Cricket stadium.
“From the time I started playing cricket as a kid, my dream was to work for a cricket establishment and involve myself with national teams and international players. I got that opportunity in Abu Dhabi.
“I haven’t been involved in a cricket World Cup and I wish the T20 World Cup comes to the UAE and Abu Dhabi will be kind enough to extend me an invite to come down and work for it. If that happens, I will have fulfilled all my dreams.”
Shahnawaz became the first full-time employee of Abu Dhabi Cricket Council (ADCC) in 2003 and worked tirelessly behind the scenes.
“This is the job I enjoyed most. It gave me so much joy and enjoyed the work as a new beginning every day,” he said.
“I’m now going into retirement with memories that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.
“I have seen Abu Dhabi’s incredible change in terms of the skyline and development, and on the cricket front, I organised tournaments before the cricket council was founded.”
A new management under Abu Dhabi Cricket’s CEO Matt Boucher turned the area surrounding the Zayed Cricket stadium into a multiple sports complex including football, hockey, volleyball, tennis and netball.
“The area around the cricket stadium has turned into a hive of sporting activities,” Shahnawaz added.
“It is still developing, which is credit to Matt and his team. This was the original plan when the cricket stadium was built but it didn’t take off, aside from the construction of the two cricket Ovals.”
Boucher paid tribute to the man who served the cricketing community for over four decades.
“On behalf of the entire cricket community in Abu Dhabi – a community that Shahnawaz himself created – we are truly saddened to see him depart our cricketing shores,” the Englishman said.
“Shahnawaz is a true icon of cricket in Abu Dhabi. In his rich 46 years here he has created – and nurtured – the participation of a flourishing community.
“He has also developed the professional ambitions of Abu Dhabi, having supervised the hosting of over 150 international matches including the Indian Premier League, ICC qualification tournaments and the world's best international bilateral matches with the world's best teams.
“He has been an outstanding servant for cricket in Abu Dhabi and we wish him the very best for the future.”
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
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Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
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4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
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Twenty20 International series
Thu Oct 26, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
Fri Oct 27, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
Sun Oct 29, 3rd T20I, Lahore
Tickets are available at www.q-tickets.com
McIlroy's struggles in 2016/17
European Tour: 6 events, 16 rounds, 5 cuts, 0 wins, 3 top-10s, 4 top-25s, 72,5567 points, ranked 16th
PGA Tour: 8 events, 26 rounds, 6 cuts, 0 wins, 4 top-10s, 5 top-25s, 526 points, ranked 71st
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Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
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(Source: Colliers)
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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
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Tomorrow 2021
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (Turf) 1,000m
7.40pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (D) 2,200m
8.15pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
10pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Strait of Hormuz
Fujairah is a crucial hub for fuel storage and is just outside the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route linking Middle East oil producers to markets in Asia, Europe, North America and beyond.
The strait is 33 km wide at its narrowest point, but the shipping lane is just three km wide in either direction. Almost a fifth of oil consumed across the world passes through the strait.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait, a move that would risk inviting geopolitical and economic turmoil.
Last month, Iran issued a new warning that it would block the strait, if it was prevented from using the waterway following a US decision to end exemptions from sanctions for major Iranian oil importers.
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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Mina Al-Oraibi: Iraq is in a fight to show its people who is really in charge
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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The five pillars of Islam
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
RESULTS
Tottenham 1
Jan Vertonghen 13'
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2-3 on penalties
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
