DUBAI // Andrew Flintoff plans to travel the world from his base in Dubai as a Twenty20 hired hand after he turned down an offer of an incremental contract from England.
The 31-year-old all-rounder's decision has already drawn much criticism, but Sean Morris, the Professional Cricketers Association chief executive, defended the Ashes star. "He is probably in a unique position because he's built his international value through performing well for England," Morris said.
"As a result he can gain rewards for playing in Sydney or Mumbai that most other players can't. At the moment I'd say he's in a pretty elite group of a very few players."
Mike Gatting, the former England captain, refuted the idea that Flintoff's move sets a worrying precedent.
"Fred's is a slightly different scenario because of a chronic injury and I'm not too sure many people will be doing the same because they will want to play Test cricket," said Gatting.
Flintoff is in Dubai to recuperate from injury and is also contemplating making it his base for long term.Flintoff has stated on his website that he "will also help out the United Arab Emirates cricket team while in Dubai".
The UAE cricket officials, however, say Flintoff's claim is news to them. "I know that he is in Dubai, but I am not aware of any arrangements that have been made," said Mazhar Khan, the Emirates Cricket Board administrator.
Flintoff is not the only one who can look forward to a diet of Twenty20 cricket over the near future.
Arshad Ali, the free-hitting all-rounder who has been termed the UAE's Freddie Flintoff in the past, hopes the chance to be advised by the Lancashire all-rounder comes will now become a reality.
"I would love to face him," said Arshad. "He sat the game out when we played in the ProArch Trophy [in 2008] against Lancashire, so I didn't get to face him then.
"It's understandable he wants to play Twenty20 and not Test cricket now. In Twenty20 you turn up and bowl four overs, get all the exposure and all the money.
"In Test matches, you might have to bowl 30 overs and still not take a wicket."
@Email:pradley@thenational.ae
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Paris Can Wait
Dir: Eleanor Coppola
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Diane Lane, Arnaud Viard
Two stars
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
IF YOU GO
The flights
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.
The biog
Job: Fitness entrepreneur, body-builder and trainer
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite quote: We must become the change we want to see, by Mahatma Gandhi.
Favourite car: Lamborghini
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
More on Quran memorisation:
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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The Comeback: Elvis And The Story Of The 68 Special
Simon Goddard
Omnibus Press
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
