Sandeep Lamichhane haul leaves just UAE between Nepal and World Cup Qualifier

Nepal are one step away from advancing directly to the Cricket World Cup Qualifier after the most crushingly dominant display since a day earlier.

On Sunday, they had thrilled a packed crowd at Tribhuvan University in thrashing UAE by 177 runs in Cricket World Cup League 2.

That win could scarcely have been more comprehensive – but they made a good effort at bettering it as they savaged Papua New Guinea at the same ground a day later.

They required less than 40 overs to wrap up victory. First, Sandeep Lamichhane took five for 25 as PNG were fired out for 95 in 32 overs.

Lalit Rajbanshi, who had himself taken five in the win over UAE, took two more wickets, as well as two catches off Lamichanne’s bowling.

The ensuing run chase was remarkable. Aasif Sheikh hit the fastest one-day international half-century by a Nepal cricketer as they hurried to a nine-wicket win in just 7.4 overs.

Sheikh’s 53 not out came from 21 deliveries, while his opening partner, Khushal Bhurtel, was the one wicket to fall, having made 33 from 14 balls.

Nepal have just one match left as they bid to complete an extraordinary march to the global Qualifier, which will take place in Zimbabwe in June and July.

They have won 10 matches from their past 11 in this competition in recent weeks. One more against UAE on Thursday would take them above Namibia into third place in League 2, and thus qualification.

“We are looking forward to the final game,” Rohit Paudel, the Nepal captain, said. “We have been making good plans before the games, and it has been working well for us. We are lucky, I think.”

Lamichhane was named player of the match for his five-wicket haul.

“I am very emotional at the moment,” said Lamichhane, who is facing charges of rape but has been released from custody on bail.

“I have always wanted to do this again and again for the country.

“It is all because of the contribution of my team and the way they have supported me through the situation I was going through.”

Karwaan

Producer: Ronnie Screwvala

Director: Akarsh Khurana

Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar

Rating: 4/5

The BIO:

He became the first Emirati to climb Mount Everest in 2011, from the south section in Nepal

He ascended Mount Everest the next year from the more treacherous north Tibetan side

By 2015, he had completed the Explorers Grand Slam

Last year, he conquered K2, the world’s second-highest mountain located on the Pakistan-Chinese border

He carries dried camel meat, dried dates and a wheat mixture for the final summit push

His new goal is to climb 14 peaks that are more than 8,000 metres above sea level

Islamophobia definition

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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021

Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”