Lee happy to kick off tour with T20

Australia open their campaign in Sri Lanka with two Twenty20 internationals on Saturday and on Monday, which could set the tone for the rest of the tour.

Brett Lee, the seasoned Australian fast bowler, said he felt the Twenty20 games were the right way to start the seven-week tour, which also features five one-day internationals and three Test matches.

"I think it builds the hype," the 34 year old said. "If you were to have it towards the end after a Test series, it probably would not work as well.

"I think the way a tour should be run is that you start with the Twenty20s, then the one-dayers and then the Test matches.

"It just flows in beautifully into the longer form of the game."

Australia, once the masters of the game, will look to rebuild their battered reputation during the tour after falling to fifth place in the Test rankings, one behind Sri Lanka.

The winners of four World Cup titles, they were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the last edition played in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh earlier this year.

Cameron White, Australia's Twenty20 captain, will return home after Monday since he is not part of either the one-day or Test squads that will be led by Michael Clarke.

The Twenty20 games will be played under floodlights at the Pallekele International Stadium, a new facility near Kandy and built for the World Cup.

Sri Lanka, who are led by Tillakaratne Dilshan, the hard-hitting opening batsman, will miss Muttiah Muralitharan, the now retired off-spinner, and Lasith Malinga, the sling-arm fast bowler, who is injured.

But Angelo Mathews, the all-rounder and the team's new vice-captain, was hopeful the bowling attack would look sharp even without the spearheads.

"Lasith and Murali are exceptional people and I think that while we have got talent, nobody can replace them," he said. "But there are good youngsters coming up."

Essentials

The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.

Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.

In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.

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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.

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The rules on fostering in the UAE

A foster couple or family must:

be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
not be younger than 25 years old
not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially

FINAL RESULT

Sharjah Wanderers 20 Dubai Tigers 25 (After extra-time)

Wanderers
Tries: Gormley, Penalty
cons: Flaherty
Pens: Flaherty 2

Tigers
Tries: O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
Cons: Caldwell 2
Pens: Caldwell, Cross

All about the Sevens

Cape Town Sevens on Saturday and Sunday: Pools A – South Africa, Kenya, France, Russia; B – New Zealand, Australia, Spain, United States; C – England, Scotland, Argentina, Uganda; D – Fiji, Samoa, Canada, Wales

HSBC World Sevens Series standing after first leg in Dubai 1 South Africa; 2 New Zealand; 3 England; 4 Fiji; 5 Australia; 6 Samoa; 7 Kenya; 8 Scotland; 9 France; 10 Spain; 11 Argentina; 12 Canada; 13 Wales; 14 Uganda; 15 United States; 16 Russia

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