If Kabir Khan's credentials for the job of UAE national team coach were in any doubt, then even the live scoreboard tab on cricinfo.com was working in his favour yesterday.
Underneath the link to the page for the first Test between India and Australia was the access point for a fixture between Afghanistan and Kenya in Nairobi. The scorecard reported that the Afghans were rapidly building on a first innings lead in excess of 300 against the nation who could historically lay claim to be the best from outside the Test sphere.
This is the same Afghan side who used to lose regularly to the UAE. They began playing less than a decade ago, after refugees returned from Pakistan armed with a knowledge of a new sport called cricket.
When Afghanistan first played international matches, Kenya were reaching the semi-final of the 50-over World Cup. Kabir cannot claim all the credit for Afghanistan's rise. They were on the march before he was in charge, but the job he did smoothing the rough edges is highly commendable.
Thanks to Kabir's influence, Afghanistan's players have passport stamps from genuine cricket playing destinations, like the Caribbean, to go with the ones from the nether reaches of cricket's sphere, like Jersey and Tanzania, when they were just starting out.
Some have even got a genuine chance of playing in the Indian Premier League. Kabir frequently trumpeted their cases to do so.When the Emirates Cricket Board ended its pursuit of Mudassar Nazar, Kabir was the obvious choice. If he stays for the long-term, the UAE's cricket future could be bright.
arizvi@thenational.ae
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
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The White Lotus: Season three
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'Champions'
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Stars: Yassir Al Saggaf and Fatima Al Banawi
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The stats: 2017 Jaguar XJ
Price, base / as tested Dh326,700 / Dh342,700
Engine 3.0L V6
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 340hp @ 6,000pm
Torque 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.1L / 100km
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
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Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
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Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
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Fuel economy, combined: 12.5L / 100km
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
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- not be younger than 25 years old
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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.
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Racecard
5pm: Al Maha Stables – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: The President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m
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Squad
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
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Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
