Ajinkya Rahane’s ‘balanced’ India work on new plans in Zimbabwe after ICC’s rule changes

Captain Ajinkya Rahane is confident about his young, balanced India side who will emerge victorious in the tour of Zimbabwe.

Rahane was asked to lead the 15-member team as MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, among other seniors, were rested.

India leave for Zimbabwe this morning to play three ODIs, starting on Friday, and two Twenty20 internationals.

“We have a very good team, a balanced team. I am sure that as a team we will do well in Zimbabwe. We are confident that we will do well and win in Zimbabwe,” Rahane said yesterday.

Speaking about the new ODI rules brought in by International Cricket Council, the captain said: “The new rules will be very exciting and challenging for us, but we will have to wait and see what will happen.

“We will get an idea after the first ODI once we play against Zimbabwe. It will be really exciting and challenging for all the players, batsmen and bowlers as well. We will have to come up with new plans because, as per the new rules, you can have four fielders outside the 30-yard circle in the last 10 overs. It will take time and we will have to see how it goes as far as the new rules are concerned.”

Rahane, 27, backed veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh to perform well in the tour after making a comeback to the team against Bangladesh in the one-off Test last month.

“Harbhajan has been a star performer for our country. He has been doing really well and I am happy for him because he came back so strongly,” he said.

“He bowled well all season and in the Test match against Bangladesh. Whenever needed I will go to him and ask about his experience and strategies.”

Speaking about the young team, he said: “It is a good opportunity for all the youngsters to express themselves at the international level. All the players who have been selected for this tour did pretty well in the Indian Premier League as well as in domestic cricket.”

“I am confident about this bunch of guys that whoever gets the opportunity will do well. As a team, our only motto will be to do well in Zimbabwe and get back to our winning habit.”

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Investors: Family offices

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Iraq negotiating over Iran sanctions impact

US sanctions on Iran’s energy industry and exports took effect on Monday, November 5.
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Iraq’s government is cooperating with the US to contain Iranian influence in the country, and increased Iraqi oil production is helping to make up for Iranian crude that sanctions are blocking from markets, US officials say.
Iraq, the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, pumped last month at a record 4.78 million barrels a day, former Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said on Oct. 20. Iraq exported 3.83 million barrels a day last month, according to tanker tracking and data from port agents.
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Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.

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Company name: Almouneer
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Rasmi Ragy is a senior counsel at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

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Ajinkya Rahane’s ‘balanced’ India work on new plans in Zimbabwe after ICC’s rule changes

We will get an idea about the new guidelines after the first ODI once we play against Zimbabwe, says India's new captain, with the seniors rested for the tour.

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