With two more teams than last year, a new host and some of the biggest names of the sport, the eighth edition of the annual, star-studded Emirates Twenty20 cricket tournament held in Dubai is expected to provide double the fun for fans visiting the ICC Academy this Thursday and Friday.
The tournament usually involves four teams, including two or three English county clubs, one or two UAE-based sides and a composite XI representing the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). This time around it will also feature two Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises.
PSL teams make their debut
Peshawar Zalmi and Lahore Qalandars, two hugely popular teams from PSL, will be joining an MCC World XI and English county sides Lancashire Lightning, Birmingham Bears and Durham Jets for this year’s Emirates Twenty20. This will give fans an opportunity to get up-close with players such as England’s leading wicket-taker in international cricket James Anderson. His current and former England teammates Liam Plunket, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood and Ben Ducket are also likely to play.
Competitive edge
“Because of international commitments, I have not done too many pre-season tours,” said Anderson, who will be testing his shoulders here after being forced to return home early from the India tour due to injury. “We feel very fortunate to be out here and we are looking forward certainly to this tournament. Having that competitive edge to your pre-season is crucial and getting into the winning habit is important as well. So we are looking to get that this week.”
Perfect pre-season
“It’s fantastic for the Durham boys to be out here and up the pre-season ante,” said Collingwood, the Durham captain. “It’s something that we really enjoy being involved in and to get competitive cricket at this of the year is really important before we go into the season. “We have fantastic facilities out here and it’s great to be out here and getting the bodies and the minds ready for what is a long season.”
Qalandars on the road
“I am really excited to be a part of this event because Lahore Qalandars have the philosophy of focusing not just on three weeks of cricket in the PSL,” said Lahore Qalandar’s director of cricket Aaqib Javed, a former Pakistan international who has been a star attraction in these parts since the early 1990s. “I joined them last June and we have been on the road since then. We have had one of the biggest cricket trials ever. In 23 days, we tried out 113,000 kids across Punjab and then we took some of them to Australia and we played against Sydney Thunders and Sydney Sixers.”
Something for everyone
“The tournament provides something for everyone as well as avid cricket fans, with two action-packed days featuring six games of international cricket, VIP hospitality, family activities, entertainment, competitions and more,” said Matthew Jackson, the tournament director. “Cricket fans will also have the opportunity to meet their heroes through player meet-and-greets and signing sessions. We are very excited to host it at the ICC Academy for the first time and look forward to an exciting weekend ahead.”
Fun day for families
“The aim of the tournament has always been to engage as much as we can with the cricketing public in Dubai and in particular with the younger audience,” Jackson added. “So we will have more school coming to the event this year, more families than ever before. We feel the tournament has built that niche in the UAE where families can come and enjoy a day out at the cricket.”
Event info
What: Emirates Twenty20
When: Thursday and Friday
Where: ICC Academy, Dubai
Teams: Lancashire Lightning, Birmingham Bears, Durham Jets, Peshawar Zalmi, Lahore Qalandars and MCC World XI
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Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Racecard
6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes (PA) Group 3 Dh175,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile (TB) Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
The National selections
6.30pm: Chaddad
7.05pm: Down On Da Bayou
7.40pm: Mass Media
8.15pm: Rafal
8.50pm: Yulong Warrior
9.25pm: Chiefdom
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
Rafael Nadal's record at the MWTC
2009 Finalist
2010 Champion
Jan 2011 Champion
Dec 2011 Semi-finalist
Dec 2012 Did not play
Dec 2013 Semi-finalist
2015 Semi-finalist
Jan 2016 Champion
Dec 2016 Champion
2017 Did not play
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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
