In the picturesque surroundings of Roehampton and Fulham Cricket Club in south-west London, the familiar sound of leather on willow rings out among the trees on a summer afternoon.
However, unlike in previous years, local players have been joined this season by refugee boys from Afghanistan who share their love of cricket.
Youngsters expatriated to the UK after the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul last August are proving their mettle at the club, where they have impressed coaches with their skills and enjoyed a string of successes on the field.
The club opened its doors to more than 20 Afghans who last year were staying at a local hotel after being flown out of the Afghan capital on RAF flights under Operation Pitting.
Donations poured in and parents whose children play at the club organised a fund-raiser to cover coaching costs for the boys.
The club offers the recent arrivals a sense of community, certainty and purpose as they continue to wait for long-term accommodation and plan for their future in Britain.
“Most of them just love playing cricket,” Marc Moderegger, who co-ordinates the junior teams, told The National. “There’s a core of about 10-12 of them who would play every single day of the week if you could give them the opportunity.
“They’re much more confident now. They were quite shy to start with. They’re gelling well with the others, they’re all getting along. They were basically bored [in the hotel] and not doing much back at that stage in September. They didn’t have a lot to do.
“My hope is that they’re learning that they can play cricket and that opens doors in terms of being able to meet other people on other teams.”
An Afghan teenager who arrived in the UK last summer plays in a cricket match in Fulham. Victoria Pertusa / The National
All-rounders
As well as improving their batting and bowling skills, joining the club has helped the boys integrate into British society and advance their English language proficiency. Learning useful phrases from their teammates is a two-way street, and they too have taught English children how to say basic sentences in Pashto.
Some new members proved to be so talented that they were sent for trials at Surrey County Cricket Club, with eight being accepted.
But despite the warm welcome shown to the boys by the regulars, and their obvious talent both on and off the cricket field, it has not all been plain sailing for the aspiring sportsmen.
Some of them are separated from their families, including parents who are still in Afghanistan, and hotel living is not ideal, particularly for students sitting exams.
“There’s been quite a few mental health issues at times,” Mr Moderegger said. “Sometimes it’s difficult to get them motivated.
“There’s definitely occasions where they’re obviously feeling down and they don’t feel like doing anything. Once you get them to cricket, the challenge is they’re too enthusiastic and they don’t want to leave, but it’s getting them there in the first place. Once you’ve got them to a game or a training session, I can’t remember them ever complaining about having been persuaded to do it.
“They’re all teenagers and there’s a certain amount of surliness that comes with that. Add to that all the issues that they’ve faced, it’s unsurprising that sometimes they have a lack of motivation or desire.”
Dream to play for England
The players who have displayed exceptional skills and leadership qualities have been put forward for training programmes in the hope that they themselves can become coaches and earn a living.
Sahil, 16, is among the players who has convinced those at the club he has a promising career ahead.
“I feel brotherhood playing for this club,” he said. “When I’m on the field I feel like I’m in love of life.
“It’s my dream to play for England. I have to struggle more and work hard. It motivated me more and it helped me.”
Aziz, 18, said he and his peers are grateful for the reception from club members.
“We learnt lots of things here with the club,” he said. “It’s a good thing for us to play in England. We met lots of people here. They helped us, they gave everything to us.”
Afghan refugee boys playing in a cricket match in Fulham, London. Victoria Pertusa / The National
The idea to integrate Afghan refugee boys into the club came from Ziaulhaq Maliky, who was among the thousands to arrive in the UK last summer. Mr Maliky, who worked as a fixer for British journalists in Kabul before the Taliban takeover, found a job as a coach at Roehampton and Fulham Cricket Club.
He said the changes he has seen in the boys since they attended their first training session last September have been phenomenal.
“When they first came, most of them didn’t know how to speak English, but now, after playing with English boys, they have integrated very well and learnt about their cultures, they learnt about their language and it also taught [the local players] about Afghan cultures and taught them how to speak a couple of words in Pashto.
“Most of these boys, they have a lot of talent.” Mr Maliky said. He hopes the training offered by the club will serve as a foundation for some of the players to carve out a successful future in cricket.
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened. He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia. Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”. Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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.
Manchester City 3
Danilo (16'), Bernardo Silva (34'), Fernandinho (72')
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German plea
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the German parliament that. Russia had erected a new wall across Europe.
"It's not a Berlin Wall -- it is a Wall in central Europe between freedom and bondage and this Wall is growing bigger with every bomb" dropped on Ukraine, Zelenskyy told MPs.
Mr Zelenskyy was applauded by MPs in the Bundestag as he addressed Chancellor Olaf Scholz directly.
"Dear Mr Scholz, tear down this Wall," he said, evoking US President Ronald Reagan's 1987 appeal to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr Started: 2019 Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr Sector: FinTech Headquarters: Egypt UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi Current number of staff: More than 150 Funds raised: $22 million
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Granta
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The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at. Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti withCoastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg (first-leg score):
Manchester City (0) v Tottenham Hotspur (1), Wednesday, 11pm UAE
Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net
Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.
Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
