Pakistani cricket - anarchic, maddening, wonderful. Would we have it any other way? Perhaps.
But would we be able to enjoy the slings and arrows of such outrageous talent as Shahid Afridi, Younus Khan and Umar Gul without the whole system perpetually living on the edge of combustion? I doubt it.
Pakistan's World Twenty20 victory at the home of cricket was a triumph for the sport, not just for the 160 million people their extraordinary cricketers represent.
Their path to the trophy was potted with pitfalls. It was Pakistan cricket in microcosm. Not a day passed without another issue being sent to test them. Any one of them would have derailed the entire campaign of most other sides in the competition. Pakistan's players barely batted an eyelid.
They arrived late, with no time for suitable practice, prompting a thrashing in the opening match by England. "Everyone knows we are slow starters," laughed the captain, Younus, whose demeanour is every bit as beguiling as his batting.
"He is either the happiest man in the world, or someone has been giving him laughing gas," commented one agency reporter.
Cue the usual outcry. The chief selector steps down, railing against the captain, and the coach in the process.
The necessary hefty win over the Netherlands was achieved with a swagger, but followed quickly by another defeat, to Sri Lanka. "This is entertainment - like WWF," reasons Younus, merrily.
Two players go down injured. Abdul Razzaq, until recently persona non grata after quitting Pakistan cricket to play in the rebel Indian Cricket League instead, is summoned. They muddle on.
Then the daily grind begins to ease. Afridi, whose performances with the ball have hauled his side to this point, suddenly locates the middle of his bat again, and all is well with the world. Their rivals did not stand a chance.
"I am very proud of what we achieved," said Younus, immediately after guiding his side to the title. He dedicates the win to the memory of the late Bob Woolmer, then says: "I will talk about my future after the press conference."
No further questions, then Younus, after thanking the media for how they treated him, announces his retirement from Twenty20 cricket. He did it his way.
Among the press corps, he has another convert: "Younus Khan is my new favourite cricketer," says another reporter.
They did not even get their lap of honour quite right. So excited were the players, they raced around the boundary edge at Usain Bolt-pace. Only Afridi, with all the experience of 13 deeply-storied years of international cricket behind him, took time to savour the moment.
Pakistan have the team that their fans deserve, and one that is too good for their board. A lot is made of India's 'Blue Billion', but grounds are rarely alive with more vibrancy than when Pakistan are playing, especially in the UK. When Afridi walks to the wicket, hold on to your hats.
One thing we can all do without is narcissistic cricket administrators, in which the subcontinent as a whole specialises. They were at their sinister worst at the World Twenty20, making sure they were seen and having their voice heard at times of maximum exposure.
They did their level best to sully the moment. As excitement ahead of the fairytale final of a well-run tournament was reaching its crescendo, they spied their chance. They announced the dispute over the 14 matches that had been taken away from Pakistan for the 2011 World Cup had reached impasse, and that they were to proceed with their legal motion against the ICC. Whatever the merits of their case, the timing was totally awry.
When the suits first convened to discuss the now murky issue of staging rights, the timing gave a clue as to how little they are actually bothered by on-field action.
The meeting lasted four hours, and over-ran the start of Pakistan's match with Ireland.
And amid the frenzy which followed Younus raising the trophy after winning the final, the sight of the board officials in their smartly pressed PCB blazers handing the cup to each other was galling. These brilliant young players had achieved their triumph in spite of them, not because of them.
@Email:pradley@thenational.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Teenage%20Mutant%20Ninja%20Turtles%3A%20Shredder's%20Revenge
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
Quick facts on cancer
- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases
- About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime
- By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million
- 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries
- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable
- Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers
- Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved annually by implementing the right health
strategies
- The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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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
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Bareilly Ki Barfi
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Three and a half stars
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
