DUBAI // The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) is taking the initiative in the battle to combat illegal bowling actions, as it prepares to send two national team players to India for biomechanics examinations.
Shadeep Silva and Salman Farooq are scheduled to fly to the new ICC-accredited laboratory in Chennai this week for testing on their bowling.
Shadeep, the long-serving left-arm spinner, was reported by officials at the World Twenty20 qualifier in the UAE last year for suspicions he may straighten his arm by more than the permitted 15 degrees when bowling.
Farooq, though, has never been officially reported, having played all his recent cricket on the domestic circuit, away from the gaze of international officials.
The 32-year-old off-spinner has forced his way back into the reckoning for a place in the UAE tour party for next year’s World Cup.
He has been one of the most consistent performers in UAE club cricket and he was on the standby list for the national team’s recent tour to Australia.
The governing body for the sport here want to allay any prevailing doubts over the legality of his bowling action, so he is also being sent to Chennai
“Because of all the off-spinners who have been called in international cricket, [the ECB] just want to be sure,” said Farooq, whose trip to India may be delayed by a hold up in the visa process.
“It is better to be cautious. Thanks to God, I have been performing really well in domestic cricket and have been going to the training camps and trying to improve my fitness.
“I was doing really well, but they wanted me to go [for biomechanics testing] before the World Cup.”
The process may mean Farooq misses the forthcoming one-day international matches against Afghanistan.
That series is one of the last chances for the players to prove themselves before next year’s World Cup squad announcement.
Both Farooq and Shadeep were part of the UAE squad the last time they appeared alongside the Test elite in a major one-day international tournament, at the 2008 Asia Cup in Pakistan.
Shadeep had been in limbo for most of this year as he awaited news of whether he would be sent for testing.
“Now I am going to Chennai for testing and I want to show that my action is clean,” Shadeep said.
“I have been training a little for the past one or two months outside [the UAE set up] and I want to get back playing.”
The UAE’s vigilance, particularly in Farooq’s case, fits with the ICC’s increased focus on suspect bowling actions this year.
In a statement on Monday, the sport’s governing body said it was happy with the proactive policing being applied on the issue.
“The ICC board endorsed and reiterated its support for the ICC’s no-tolerance approach in dealing with suspected illegal bowling actions,” the ICC said.
“It also complimented the members for supporting the process and proactively identifying, and addressing, bowlers with suspected illegal bowling actions at domestic level.”
THE SPIN YARN
The national team used to base their gameplan entirely around spinners, often fielding as many as four specialist slow bowlers in the starting XI. Not any more. Since qualifying for the World Cup, the focus has changed completely, with a battery of pace bowlers now taking the lead. Assuming frontline batsmen like Khurram Khan and Saqib Ali will send down some overs of spin, it is likely players who have been regulars in the side will be fighting over one place at the World Cup.
Nasir Aziz (off-spin)
Pakistani-born magician who was always the leader of the attack. His doosra was ruled illegal at the start of this year, but he has already forced his way back into the side, with a couple of new variations to boot.
Mohammed Tauqir (off-spin)
Only returned to cricket once the UAE qualified for the World Cup, having been all but retired for the past two years. However, he has clearly been working hard to prove his commitment, having lost 8kgs in three months.
Ahmed Raza (slow left-arm)
For so long he has been seen as the next captain-in-waiting for UAE, but has not been a definite starter since the focus changed to a pace attack. Restated his case with four wickets in a win over Pakistan A recently.
Fayyaz Ahmed (slow left-arm)
Probably in direct competition with Raza, the affable resident of Al Ain is currently absent from the UAE’s training camp in Dubai due to a family bereavement. Added dimension provided by powerful late-order batting.
Shadeep Silva (slow left-arm)
A mainstay of the side for the best part of a decade, the Sri Lankan’s future depends on the outcome of testing on his bowling action in India. Was a key man in the old gameplan due to his proficiency with the new ball.
Salman Farooq (off-spin)
The Emirati off-spinner has played irregularly for the national team over the past eight years, but has forced himself back into the reckoning by weight of wickets on the domestic scene. Will also undergo testing.
pradley@thenational.ae
Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mountain Classification Tour de France after Stage 8 on Saturday:
- 1. Lilian Calmejane (France / Direct Energie) 11
- 2. Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana) 10
- 3. Daniel Martin (Ireland / Quick-Step) 8
- 4. Robert Gesink (Netherlands / LottoNL) 8
- 5. Warren Barguil (France / Sunweb) 7
- 6. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 6
- 7. Guillaume Martin (France / Wanty) 6
- 8. Jan Bakelants (Belgium / AG2R) 5
- 9. Serge Pauwels (Belgium / Dimension Data) 5
- 10. Richie Porte (Australia / BMC Racing) 4
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Ziyadd, Richard Mullen (jockey), Jean de Roualle (trainer).
7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m
Winner: Barney Roy, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m
Winner: Secret Advisor, Tadhg O’Shea, Charlie Appleby.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Plata O Plomo, Carlos Lopez, Susanne Berneklint.
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.
Premier League results
Saturday
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Arsenal 1
Bournemouth 0 Manchester City 1
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Huddersfield Town 0
Burnley 1 Crystal Palace 3
Manchester United 3 Southampton 2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Cardiff City 0
West Ham United 2 Newcastle United 0
Sunday
Watford 2 Leicester City 1
Fulham 1 Chelsea 2
Everton 0 Liverpool 0
Profile of Foodics
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
England's Ashes squad
Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.
Fanney Khan
Producer: T-Series, Anil Kapoor Productions, ROMP, Prerna Arora
Director: Atul Manjrekar
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai, Rajkummar Rao, Pihu Sand
Rating: 2/5
DUBAI WORLD CUP RACE CARD
6.30pm Meydan Classic Trial US$100,000 (Turf) 1,400m
7.05pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
8.15pm Dubai Sprint Listed Handicap $175,000 (T) 1,200m
8.50pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group Two $450,000 (D) 1,900m
9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,800m
10pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m
The National selections
6.30pm Well Of Wisdom
7.05pm Summrghand
7.40pm Laser Show
8.15pm Angel Alexander
8.50pm Benbatl
9.25pm Art Du Val
10pm: Beyond Reason
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
