One of the most fascinating aspects of Saeed Ajmal’s time was that he was, effectively, the first spinner ever to really lead a Pakistan attack. There have been plenty of good and great spinners, an Abdul Qadir, an Iqbal Qasim, a Mushtaq Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq, and Danish Kaneria.
But they have always been tasked with support duties, the finishing touches to extravagantly varied but predominantly pace-based attacks.
Sure there were moments when Pakistan gave themselves whole and soul to spin, mostly under the captaincy of Javed Miandad. He was even happy playing three spinners at home, using Qadir, Qasim and Tauseef Ahmed to wonderful and successful effect in two home series in 1987/88 and 1988/89.
But these were rare concessions, until Ajmal came along. And they are concessions because, really, Pakistan was always a country for spinners – and left-arm spinners in particular – until the emergence of Imran Khan.
Domestic wicket-taking charts for every season from inception were dominated by slower bowlers, until well into the 90s. The effect of Imran on a generation only became evident around the mid-90s.
So, one way to view the rise of Ajmal as the leader of the attack – and Misbah-ul-Haq’s reliance on spin in that time – is as a historic course correction and not an anomaly.
Such has been Misbah’s use of spin, in fact, that it is worth asking whether Pakistan are actually India in disguise, or at least the India of the early 90s. You remember those sides of course: as sturdy as wet paper away but as immense as cement at home.
Whitewashes of England and Sri Lanka in successive seasons, a drawn series with West Indies, wins over New Zealand and Australia all were constructed on the back of three spinners: Anil Kumble at the core and a revolving cast around him, including Venkat Raju and Rajesh Chauhan.
Away from home through the 90s, they lost 11 series out of 16; they only beat Sri Lanka and Bangladesh away.
This age of Pakistan cricket has felt a little like that, too. Away from home they do not look up to much, though it is worth noting they are still resourced enough to win in places such as New Zealand.
But it is at home in the UAE that the likeness is strongest and never more so than the last few weeks, in which they have swept aside Australia and now stand on the verge of doing likewise to New Zealand. The pattern of performances has been identical. On surfaces made to suit their strengths – and that, remember, is the way of all cricket nations – their batsmen have batted long and batted big. On the same surfaces, only slight more worn after two days, their spinners have found ways not only to hustle out opposition, but also to make them look peculiarly inept.
Three Tests in a row now they have done exactly the same thing. That is the eeriest thing: how formulaic it has become.
The difference with India of that time, of course, is pace. There are always pace options for Pakistan, like the many-headed Hydra, two more for every one that is lost. It is what keeps them alive away from the comfort of home.
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
Follow our sports coverage on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
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
SPECS
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
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
MATCH INFO
Azerbaijan 0
Wales 2 (Moore 10', Wilson 34')
MATCH INFO
Asian Champions League, last 16, first leg:
Al Jazira 3 Persepolis 2
Second leg:
Monday, Azizi Stadium, Tehran. Kick off 7pm
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fixtures (all in UAE time)
Friday
Everton v Burnley 11pm
Saturday
Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur 3.30pm
West Ham United v Southampton 6pm
Wolves v Fulham 6pm
Cardiff City v Crystal Palace 8.30pm
Newcastle United v Liverpool 10.45pm
Sunday
Chelsea v Watford 5pm
Huddersfield v Manchester United 5pm
Arsenal v Brighton 7.30pm
Monday
Manchester City v Leicester City 11pm
The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
