The Pakistan Test squad announced for the upcoming tour to New Zealand had one surprising omission: Mohammad Yousuf, the experienced batsman.
Yousuf's exclusion, apparently for lack of fitness, is unwarranted.
The fitness excuse seems somewhat contrived given there is more than ample time for Yousuf to prove he is in good shape before the New Zealand tour commences on January 7.
The Pakistan squad was announced on November 30 so Yousuf had five weeks to fully recover from a minor groin injury.
In the past, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has provisionally selected even fringe players for tours subject to them clearing fitness tests, so it is bizarre that a similar approach was not applied to a player with Yousuf's record.
The only logical explanation would be that the PCB has yet again decided to close the curtains on an illustrious career. Is this finally the end of the road for Yousuf?
It is difficult to fathom the PCB's logic, or what passes for it, at the best of times, but one suspects that the PCB feels, quite erroneously, that Yousuf has been involved in one controversy too many.
It is sad if they have taken this decision as Yousuf is one of the few recent Pakistan players whose honesty and integrity on the field is above reproach and who, along with Younus Khan, should be the fulcrum of a "clean" and "controversy-free" Pakistan Test side for the next 12 months.
That Yousuf still has something to contribute to the Pakistan team should not be in doubt. His mere inclusion in the squad during this summer's tour to England boosted the confidence of Pakistan batsmen and the younger players such as Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq benefited enormously from his calming influence at the crease and in the dressing room.
His last international outing before this summer was in the ill-fated tours to New Zealand and Australia a year ago, low-scoring encounters where Yousuf often appeared to be the best batsman from either side. He was timing and hitting the ball beautifully, and with a bit more luck, would have scored much more heavily than he did.
So citing a lack of form as a reason to axe Yousuf simply does not wash. Yousuf is experienced in the difficult batting conditions in New Zealand, and averages an impressive 55 in his previous eight Tests there.
It would be a travesty if Yousuf's remarkable career, in which he achieved so much for his team and country, ends in such inglorious circumstances. There have been some brilliant highs over the last 12 years, where Yousuf's class saved the frail Pakistan batting line-up time and time again.
The numbers tell their own story: 7,530 runs in 90 Tests, at a hugely impressive average of 52.29, and 9,720 one-day international runs at an average of 41.71.
Yousuf has scored those runs in style and his batting has always been a treat for connoisseurs. The silken touch, the wonderful timing, and the supple wrists made him one of the most watchable of modern-day batsmen.
Coming from a poverty-stricken background and a minority community, Yousuf has faced formidable obstacles all his life.
Despite his phenomenal ability, he only began his first-class career at the relatively ripe old age (in Pakistani context) of 22, as earning money to feed his family was more of a priority than participating at cricket trials and camps.
He had neither the financial means nor the family connections that are often needed by young cricketers in Pakistan; just an abundance of talent, and it was talent alone that eventually led to a belated international debut when he was almost.
He has not looked back since, scoring mountains of runs in all conditions and against all manner of opposition.
Some of his best knocks were scored when the going was tough; back to back centuries against a rampaging West Indian attack spearheaded by Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh on their home turf in 2000; fighting knocks facing Australia's Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne in 1999 and in 2004; match-winning centuries and double centuries against England's high-quality, Ashes winning pace attack of Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff in 2005 and in 2006; and match winning contributions in difficult conditions in New Zealand in 2003, in Zimbabwe and in India.
Like most modern-day Pakistan greats, Yousuf's career has not been without controversy. There is the well-known defection to the Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2007, but Yousuf was hardly the only player who played in the ICL.
His decision to play in the ICL was an understandable reaction to the PCB's bizarre and politically motivated refusal to select him for the Pakistan team, despite having scored more runs in a calendar year than any other batsmen in cricket's 130 year history. Instead of lauding such a remarkable talent and building a team around him, the PCB chose to ban him for his ICL defection, and Pakistan cricket lost two of Yousuf's best years as a batsman.
Things have been difficult for him since his return from the ICL ban, exacerbated by the PCB's mindless and inept banning of the best Pakistan players, and employing a strategy inspired by a game of musical chairs to award the Test captaincy.
PCB's poor man management is ultimately to blame for Yousuf's poor returns of late; both Younus and Yousuf should have been the linchpins of the team.
What next then for Yousuf's rags to riches story? He has been a remarkable servant of Pakistan cricket and while a way back into the side appears to be blocked, Yousuf has done it before, most remarkably at the outset of his career.
Many would have considered the chances then to be insurmountable, but Yousuf's determination, desire and talent have brought him thus far; they may yet take him further.
sports@thenational.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
How to keep control of your emotions
If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.
Greed
Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.
Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.
Fear
The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.
Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.
Hope
While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.
Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.
Frustration
Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.
Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.
Boredom
Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.
Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Matt%20Drummond%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlyla%20Browne%2C%20Alice%20Parkinson%2C%20Sam%20Everingham%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
1 Man City 26 20 3 3 63 17 63
2 Liverpool 25 17 6 2 64 20 57
3 Chelsea 25 14 8 3 49 18 50
4 Man Utd 26 13 7 6 44 34 46
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5 West Ham 26 12 6 8 45 34 42
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6 Arsenal 23 13 3 7 36 26 42
7 Wolves 24 12 4 8 23 18 40
8 Tottenham 23 12 4 8 31 31 39
Results
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $36,000 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: RB Money To Burn, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Turf) 2,410m, Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Meydan Trophy – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (T) 1,900m, Winner: Secret Protector, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 - Group 2 (TB) $293,000 (D) 1,900m, Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
8.50pm: Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Zakouski, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (T) 1,000m, Winner: Motafaawit, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
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.
Company%C2%A0profile
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Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
