Mahela Jayawardene opted out of the series of one-day matches with Pakistan preceding the upcoming three-Test series in the UAE. Ishara S Kodikara / AFP
Mahela Jayawardene opted out of the series of one-day matches with Pakistan preceding the upcoming three-Test series in the UAE. Ishara S Kodikara / AFP
Mahela Jayawardene opted out of the series of one-day matches with Pakistan preceding the upcoming three-Test series in the UAE. Ishara S Kodikara / AFP
Mahela Jayawardene opted out of the series of one-day matches with Pakistan preceding the upcoming three-Test series in the UAE. Ishara S Kodikara / AFP

Mahela Jayawardene returns Sri Lanka squad for UAE Tests, joined by new face Vishwa Fernando


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Former captain Mahela Jayawardene has returned to Sri Lanka’s squad for the three-Test series against Pakistan starting in the United Arab Emirates later this month, the cricket board said on Monday.

Jayawardene, who opted out of the ongoing limited-overs series for personal reasons, was named in the 16-man squad led by all-rounder Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.

Jayawardene, 36, is one of 11 batsmen worldwide and only the second Sri Lankan alongside current teammate Kumar Sangakkara to score more than 10,000 runs in Test cricket.

The stylish right-hander has made 10,806 runs in 138 Tests at an average of 49.56, with 31 centuries and 45 half-centuries.

Vishwa Fernando, a 22 year old left-arm seamer, is the new face in the squad. He has claimed 37 wickets in 15 first-class matches.

All-rounder Dilruwan Perera, who has yet to play Test cricket after seven limited-overs appearances, was also picked by the selectors ahead of unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis.

The first Test starts in Abu Dhabi on December 31. The second will be played in Dubai from January 8 to 12 and the third in Sharjah from January 16 to 20.

Sri Lanka’s Test squad: Angelo Mathews (capt), Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kumar Sangakkara, Lahiru Thirimanne, Mahela Jayawardene, Prasanna Jayawardene, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Shaminda Eranga, Vishwa Fernando, Sachithra Senananyake, Nuwan Pradeep, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera.

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The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

The more serious side of specialty coffee

While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.

The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.

Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”

One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.

Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms. 

South Africa's T20 squad

Duminy (c), Behardien, Dala, De Villiers, Hendricks, Jonker, Klaasen (wkt), Miller, Morris, Paterson, Phangiso, Phehlukwayo, Shamsi, Smuts.

Temple numbers

Expected completion: 2022

Height: 24 meters

Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people

Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people

First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time

First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres  

Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres

Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor 

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