A young cricketer whose bowling went viral online says it remains his dream to play for UAE, even though he has moved to India after becoming disillusioned with the game here.
A brief clip of Raees Ayan bowling a bouncer in the nets in Abu Dhabi has clocked up nearly half a million views across Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.
The responses to it were full of praise, describing “rocket speed … wow,” with some suggesting the best way for the batsman to play the delivery would be from the non-striker’s end.
The fact he had become a star in cyberspace was a surprise to Ayan, who was raised in the UAE but is now studying for a commerce degree in Hyderabad.
His father Musheer Ahmed, who has lived in Abu Dhabi for the past 23 years, had sent the clip to espncricinfo, and Ayan only happened on it after being told about it by a friend.
“I only saw it randomly,” Ayan, who turned 20 in April, said.
“It was getting a lot of views, as it had been a few hours, but wasn’t viral at that point. Later on, it went crazy.
“I felt good, and there were a lot of positive comments about it.”
The online fame provided a pick-me-up for a young player who is missing cricket while living in lockdown alone in his student accommodation.
He moved to Hyderabad in 2018 to dovetail studying with an attempt to forge a professional cricket career for himself in India.
That was against the wishes of his family back in Abu Dhabi, who had wanted him to stay with them while pursuing further education in the capital.
Ayan’s decision was prompted by being overlooked for selection for international honours in the Emirates.
“That was my first dream, to play for UAE,” said Ayan, who was born in India but brought to live in the UAE when he was three months old.
“When I was in the Under 16s, the coach at the time Aaqib Javed saw me at an inter-schools match. He said he needs to see me in the trials.
“I had to miss those trials, but ever since then I have wanted to play for UAE.
“Now, I am not in touch with anyone there, but I would love the chance to play.”
Since moving to India, his opportunities to advance his game have been limited, even if he has been a net bowler for the IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad on occasions.
His first year after leaving UAE was focused on his college studies, while rain accounted for much of last season. Now, the pandemic is likely to account for much of this season, if not all.
“Because of Covid-19, most of this season will probably be cancelled, too,” Ayan said.
“The season would usually be starting about now, but academies haven’t opened yet and I don’t think matches will be played. I have been missing cricket a lot.”
His time away from the field has been focused on strength and conditioning, as he seeks to add a few extra yards to the pace that so impressed in his video clip.
He might have inherited his talent for fast bowling from father Musheer. He had been a left-arm fast-bowler in his own playing days, and was one of the first to be enrolled at the MRF pace foundation with Dennis Lillee, in 1987.
But he scarcely played after moving to Abu Dhabi in the mid-1990s to take up a job as a finance manager in a construction company, so his son found a role model elsewhere.
And perhaps not the most obvious one for an Indian boy growing up in Abu Dhabi.
“I model myself on Liam Plunkett,” Ayan said.
“I have followed him since watching county cricket way back, and I can relate to him. I don’t know why.
“People have said my bowling action is a bit like his, so I started following him.”
Father Musheer is glad the five-second clip of his son bowling was well received.
“Because Ayan is over there, and he is not playing any cricket at this time because of Covid anxiety, I just wanted to motivate him,” Musheer said.
“We are all here, but he has moved there to pursue sports.
“Of course I miss him, especially now with the situation the world is going through. He is there alone.
“But he is strong mentally, and he has told us not to worry.
“He went to India with the hope that he could become a professional cricketer. That is his main aim.”
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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SPECS
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'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
Destroyer
Director: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Sebastian Stan
Rating: 3/5
UAE release: January 31
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
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ASSASSIN'S%20CREED%20MIRAGE
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
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World Series
Game 1: Red Sox 8, Dodgers 4
Game 2: Red Sox 4, Dodgers 2
Game 3: Saturday (UAE)
* if needed
Game 4: Sunday
Game 5: Monday
Game 6: Wednesday
Game 7: Thursday
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
Company%20profile
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