The UAE have been handed a stark reality check, having been all but knocked out of the World Twenty20 Qualifier in Edinburgh, Scotland, with one match of the pool stage to play.
The national team were humbled on Thursday by Kenya, a side who they had beaten in the lead-up to the competition.
After the Kenyans posted 147 for five from their 20 overs, the UAE mustered a paltry 105 all out.
It was their fourth defeat out of five matches this week.
Read more:
UAE up and running at World T20 Qualifier with five-wicket win over Canada
Khurram Khan ‘is going to be very difficult to replace’ for UAE ahead of World Twenty20 qualifiers
UAE look ahead after failing to ‘bat responsibly’ against Scotland in World T20 qualifier
With one game left to play, against Oman tomorrow, their substantial net-run-rate deficit means the national team are almost certainly unable to qualify for the main competition in India next year.
The poor form in Scotland marks a major come down from earlier this year, when optimism abounded as the side headed off to the 50-over World Cup for the first time in 19 years.
Even Aaqib Javed, the coach who is perennially upbeat, has been critical, bemoaning an ageing side and calling for changes to the way the elite game is run in the UAE.
Mansoor Pasha, the UAE team manager, said the atmosphere surrounding the side is totally different to what it was at the World Cup.
“The fitness and the mental status is low if you compare it to the World Cup,” Pasha said. “Back then, they were very fit. Now the fitness is a long way down and they have not gelled as one team.”
There could yet be Gulf representation in the tournament in India next year, though, as Oman continued their good form. Oman, who knocked the UAE out of pre-qualifying for the 2012 competition but have yet to play at the World T20, beat the previously irresistible Afghanistan by 40 runs.
It was their third win in the pool stage and leaves them with a strong chance of progressing.
“This is our third time in the qualifiers and we have never made it into the World T20, but this time things are going very well,” said Mehran Khan, who was man of the match for Oman having taken four wickets.
“We have done five months hard work at home and it’s paying off now. This is one of the best wins we have had in the recent past.”
On a morning of upsets, Papua New Guinea shocked co-hosts and tournament favourites Ireland in the other group, while Nepal limped to defeat against Hong Kong.
pradley@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter at our new home at NatSportUAE
The specs: 2019 Mini Cooper
Price, base: Dh141,740 (three-door) / Dh165,900 (five-door)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder (Cooper) / 2.0-litre four-cylinder (Cooper S)
Power: 136hp @ 4,500rpm (Cooper) / 192hp @ 5,000rpm (Cooper S)
Torque: 220Nm @ 1,480rpm (Cooper) / 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (Cooper S)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 4.8L to 5.4L / 100km
Day 1 results:
Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)
Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:
Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')
Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tour de France 2017: Stage 5
Vittel - La Planche de Belles Filles, 160.5km
It is a shorter stage, but one that will lead to a brutal uphill finish. This is the third visit in six editions since it was introduced to the race in 2012. Reigning champion Chris Froome won that race.
Bio
Age: 25
Town: Al Diqdaqah – Ras Al Khaimah
Education: Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering
Favourite colour: White
Favourite place in the UAE: Downtown Dubai
Favourite book: A Life in Administration by Ghazi Al Gosaibi.
First owned baking book: How to Be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
ODI FIXTURE SCHEDULE
First ODI, October 22
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Second ODI, October 25
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune
Third ODI, October 29
Venue TBC
'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.
