Given what is at stake for them at the Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off in Namibia, it is understandable the UAE’s cricketers might be feeling up tight at present.
The chance to make it to the next phase of World Cup qualifying is one goal. Perhaps more pressingly, so it retaining one-day international status. Lose that, and their jobs may be on the line.
Their loss against the United States in Windhoek on Thursday only served to aggravate tensions. For all the merits of a fine century by 18-year-old USA rookie Saiteja Mukkamalla, UAE know they largely had themselves to blame.
The defeat was characterised by some limp strokeplay, abysmal running between the wickets, and the type of fielding lapses which are unbecoming of one of the youngest and most athletic sides UAE have put out in ODI cricket.
Despite the inconsistency and insecurity, one player could at least afford himself a feeling of satisfaction.
Matiullah bowled just five overs, taking one wicket for the concession of 37 runs. It was unspectacular, but even being here at all is a notable achievement.
Back in 2011, Matiullah had left his home in Bannu, a city near Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, to take up work in UAE as a driver for a transport company.
His shifts were long, usually involving trips from the Saudi border to the northern emirates and back again. Despite the hours, he would fit in games of tape-ball cricket whenever he could.
“I came to UAE for work, but I love cricket so much,” Matiullah said.
“I had to work first then go for cricket, which was very hard. To be honest, it was a real struggle for 10 years.
“I used to pick up from the Saudi border, and work for 12-13 hours, then fit cricket round that.
“I had to do that journey three or four times a week. I remember how much I struggled. But, Alhamdulillah, after four or five years everything started to come good.”
Matiullah’s aptitude as a pace bowler in tape-ball cricket got him noticed. He was offered a chance to play for Brothers Gas, a corporate side in Dubai, which allowed him to quit his job as a driver and devote himself to the sport instead.
He adapted to playing formal cricket bowling with a hard, leather ball, with which he tried to imitate the skills of his two heroes, Mohammad Amir and Mohammed Asif.
Now, 12 years after arriving in UAE and age 30, he has graduated to the national team, training with whom still involves a three-hour round trip from Ras Al Khaimah.
He was presented with his cap by Mudassar Nazar, the former Pakistan all-rounder who is the interim coach of the UAE team, ahead of the game against United States.
“Playing for a country is not easy,” Matiullah said.
“I worked continuously for 10 or 11 years, then came to UAE camp for the first time after that.
“When I took my debut cap, I was emotional. It was such a proud moment for me, plus my family and my friends, who had all remembered me in their prayers. I don’t have words to describe the feeling.
“Mudassar told me to give my best and play honestly. Inshallah, I will do everything I can for my team and my country.”
Despite the emotions he felt, Matiullah says he was not overawed by playing international cricket for the first time. He said playing in front of TV cameras at the Abu Dhabi T10, then in the DP World International League T20 had helped ready him for the big stage.
Coincidentally, Ali Khan, the United States fast bowler, had been a teammate of Matiullah’s at Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20.
“I played T10 cricket, and ILT20 for ADKR and performed well,” Matiullah said.
“My family knew this so when I told them I had [been selected for UAE] they pointed out that I had played franchise cricket and now for the nation, and said that they were very proud.”
After a win and a loss in the competition so far, against Papua New Guinea and USA respectively, UAE are fourth in the six-team Qualifier Play-off.
They face Canada, who top the table with two wins from two, then second-placed Namibia on Saturday and Sunday.
“We won the first match and the second was very close,” Matiullah said.
“We made some mistakes when fielding but hopefully we can improve that against Canada and get a better result.”
THE BIO:
Sabri Razouk, 74
Athlete and fitness trainer
Married, father of six
Favourite exercise: Bench press
Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn
Power drink: A glass of yoghurt
Role model: Any good man
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro from Dh7,000 return including taxes. Avianca fliles from Rio to Cusco via Lima from $399 (Dhxx) return including taxes.
The trip
From US$1,830 per deluxe cabin, twin share, for the one-night Spirit of the Water itinerary and US$4,630 per deluxe cabin for the Peruvian Highlands itinerary, inclusive of meals, and beverages. Surcharges apply for some excursions.
The biog
Hobby: Playing piano and drawing patterns
Best book: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
Food of choice: Sushi
Favourite colour: Orange
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
How it works
Booklava works on a subscription model. On signing up you receive a free book as part of a 30-day-trial period, after which you pay US$9.99 (Dh36.70) per month to gain access to a library of books and discounts of up to 30 per cent on selected titles. You can cancel your subscription at any time. For more details go to www.booklava.com
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
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) | US$95,000 | (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Meydan Classic Listed (TB) ) | $175,000) | (Turf) 1,600m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 3 (TB) ) | $300,000) | (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Curlin Handicap Listed (TB)) | $160,000) | (D) 2,000m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB)) | $175,000) | (T) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (T) 2,000m
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Sanju
Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani
Rating: 3.5 stars
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
It's Monty Python's Crashing Rocket Circus
To the theme tune of the famous zany British comedy TV show, SpaceX has shown exactly what can go wrong when you try to land a rocket.
The two minute video posted on YouTube is a compilation of crashes and explosion as the company, created by billionaire Elon Musk, refined the technique of reusable space flight.
SpaceX is able to land its rockets on land once they have completed the first stage of their mission, and is able to resuse them multiple times - a first for space flight.
But as the video, How Not to Land an Orbital Rocket Booster, demonstrates, it was a case if you fail, try and try again.
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The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
RESULTS
Argentina 4 Haiti 0
Peru 2 Scotland 0
Panama 0 Northern Ireland 0
'Nope'
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