But Randiv and Mendis need to keep evolving, writes
One thing is for sure, Suraj Randiv did not deserve to be on the losing side as India successfully chased down the 257 runs they needed to win the third Test and draw the series with Sri Lanka.
The tall off-spinner had been drafted into the Islanders' side to fill the huge boots of Muttiah Muralitharan, cricket's highest wicket-taker in both Test and ODIs.
And Randiv took the challenge in his stride, claiming all five India wickets to fall in the second innings to finish the match with a nine-wicket haul.
Unfortunately his teammates failed to follow in his footsteps.
The Sri Lanka attack went for 707 on the placid pitch at the Singhalese Sports Club in the second Test. Yesterday, defending 257 on a turning pitch on the fifth day the final match at the P Sara Oval, the bowlers, Randiv apart, failed to deliver the killer blow. India, led by a well-struck century from VVS Laxman, completed a series-levelling five-wicket win.
Ajantha Mendis made a brave fist of things in the second innings without any rewards but some of Kumar Sangakkara's captaincy tactics were somewhat flawed and his bowling changes and field settings were not great.
Thilan Samaraweera and Mendis had ensured the game went into the final day's play with a record 118-run, 10th-wicket stand in the second innings, after defeat had looked inevitable with Sri Lanka reduced to 87 for seven.
"We put in a good effort through the series," Sangakkara said. "This game we were found wanting with our batting in the second innings. Full credit to the entire team for the effort. Randiv bowled very well. A bit more support from the other end would have helped but all the guys can be proud for their efforts."
Sangakkara was certainly putting on a brave face but he will know where it all went wrong for his side.
Mendis and Randiv are now the mainstays of the Sri Lanka spin department and they should be the team's destroyers in chief.
But they will have to develop more than a fair share of their mystery deliveries to trouble most international batsmen. The element of surprise has proved time and again to be the wildcard that can turn a losing battle into victory.
So the time has now arrived for those aspiring youngsters who may want to follow Murali's path to emerge from the shadows. Mendis and Randiv are two, but there may be others now knocking on the door for a place in the national side.
apassela@thenational.ae
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
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Paraguay
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Switzerland
USA
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Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
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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.
