Peshawar, the main city in Pakistan's northwest, won their second consecutive Twenty20 title this week with players and coaches hailing falling levels of violence for helping the sport prosper in the Taliban-plagued region.
The city of four million has been at the forefront of a rebellion that rose up more than a decade ago which seeks to topple the government and replace it with a hardline Islamic emirate.
For years, Taliban suicide bombers were able to strike almost at will as people feared leaving their homes even to go out shopping.
But the situation has improved markedly since the government began major military offensives in the North Waziristan tribal district last year aimed at clearing Taliban and Al Qaeda bases.
On Monday night, Peshawar defended their national Twenty20 title in Rawalpindi, beating by seven wickets a star-studded Karachi side featuring national T20 captain Shahid Afridi and his deputy Sarfraz Ahmed.
Lahore and Karachi have been the country’s traditional bases of cricketing power, with smaller towns and cities in prosperous Punjab province also supplying the national side in recent years.
Now, it appears Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province – home to ethnic Pashtuns who are celebrated for their bravery and prowess in battle – is flourishing.
Peshawar coach Abdul Rehman admitted cricket success came after action against militancy.
“It was tough to bring kids to the cricket grounds with bombs going on,” Rehman told AFP. “Parents were scared of sending their kids, but since the military operation cricket has flourished in KPK in general and Peshawar in particular.”
Peshawar players match the cavalier approach of the fast-rising Afghanistan team, some of whom also learned the game in refugee camps around the city.
Peshawar’s never-say-die approach was the highlight of the tournament as they successfully chased stiff targets in four of the their five group matches and beat six-time champions Sialkot in the semis – also batting second.
Rehman said bravery typifies Pashtuns, the inhabitants of the province.
“We never go easy on our enemy, be it on the ground or in the battlefield,” said Rehman. “I told my boys not to fear anyone and play fearless cricket which has become the norm of international cricket with the advent of Twenty20,” he added.
Peshawar’s outstanding performers included 27-year-old Imran Khan from Swat Valley, which was also home to Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.
Khan was the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 16 victims, his well-disguised slower deliveries accounting for many.
During his spell of 3-26 off four overs in the final he bowled four untouched deliveries which baffled the hard-hitting Afridi.
But he wouldn’t be playing the game at all if his scenic home region was still in the clutches of the Taliban, who held sway there from 2007 to 2009.
“I started playing cricket only after a military operation (in 2009) cleared Swat Valley,” he said.
“Now life is normal in Swat and we can go to the grounds.”
Imran was also the best bowler when Peshawar won the title last year – and has now been picked to make his national debut in a two-match Twenty20 series against Zimbabwe in Harare later this month.
Peshawar opener Raffatullah Mohmand hoped more of his fellow players would get a chance at national level.
“It may be too late for me but I am sure these two Twenty20 titles will go a long way in establishing Peshawar players as international stars,” said Mohmand, 38.
Pakistan’s national cricket academy head coach Mohammad Akram said he was looking forward to tapping the groundswell of talent. “The north-west is an untapped area and with the improving situation we can get good players from there,” he said.
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Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
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If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
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Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Leganes v Getafe (12am)
Levante v Alaves (4pm)
Real Madrid v Sevilla (7pm)
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Sunday
Eibar v Atletico Madrid (12am)
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Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
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Sunday, May 17
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Monday, May 18
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Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now
There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:
1. Rising US interest rates
The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.
Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”
At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.
2. Stronger dollar
High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.”
3. Global trade war
Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”
4. Eurozone uncertainty
Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”
The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”
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General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
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SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 20: 11am to 7pm - Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival and Para jiu-jitsu.
Sunday, April 21: 11am to 6pm - Abu Dhabi World Youth (female) Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Monday, April 22: 11am to 6pm - Abu Dhabi World Youth (male) Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Tuesday, April 23: 11am-6pm Abu Dhabi World Masters Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Wednesday, April 24: 11am-6pm Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Thursday, April 25: 11am-5pm Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Friday, April 26: 3pm to 6pm Finals of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Saturday, April 27: 4pm and 8pm awards ceremony.
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