There have not really been any areas of Pakistan’s performances in the last few weeks that merit greater questioning. The only one, if we are being picky, was over the place of Mohammed Hafeez, specifically at the top of the order.
Hafeez has been out of the Test side but was recalled ahead of the series against Australia. It was almost as much for his bowling as a more than useful third spinner as it was for his batting. In the two Tests against Australia he was the only batsman in the top seven to not hit at least a fifty.
So this Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi has been an important one for him and he followed a 96 in the first innings with a sixth Test hundred on the fourth day, his first in over two years; that and more spin took Pakistan to the brink of a series-opening triumph.
New Zealand ended the day on 174 for eight, overwhelmed but not yet defeated. They need, improbably, another 306 runs but at least Ish Sodhi and Mark Craig put forth some resistance in batting out nearly 15 overs to take the match to a fifth day.
“It’s a great feeling, especially in this format, to come out and get runs,” he said. “I was struggling here and at the start of this Test I was really low on confidence. But all my teammates and the coaching staff really pushed me, they really wanted me to score runs and they really gave me that support.”
Hafeez was at it with the ball, too, taking the crucial wicket of Kane Williamson, New Zealand’s best player of spin.
That has been the pattern through the season, Hafeez not only providing inexperienced bowlers with some steady support, but also taking critical wickets.
“It’s always worked for me that way. I see my bowling always as an added [factor] for me and the team. It’s important for me to go out there and do that for the team.”
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
Follow our sports coverage on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Match info
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Serbia 1
Kolarov (56')
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
How green is the expo nursery?
Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo
Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery
Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape
The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides
All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality
Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country
Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow
Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site
Green waste is recycled as compost
Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs
Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers
About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer
Main themes of expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.
Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months
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