The Bangladesh cricketer Farhad Reza ,right, talks with coach James Siddons during a training session in Karachi.
The Bangladesh cricketer Farhad Reza ,right, talks with coach James Siddons during a training session in Karachi.

Bangladesh live on false hopes



KARACHI // Jamie Siddons, the Bangladesh coach, admits their success at last year's World Cup was a false dawn for Asia's lowest ranked Test side. International cricket is starting to lose patience with Bangladesh, who have proved to be a long way out of their depth yet again at the Asia Cup. They knocked India out of the World Cup in the Caribbean, then beat South Africa in the second round. It was widely hoped that represented their coming of age in international cricket.

However, Siddons said: "We won a couple of games at the World Cup and made the Super Eight, but I don't think it was our time. I don't think it was a real sign of improvement. "I see us a day in and a day out. I have seen is a couple of wins in the World Cup - but I see all the defeats as well. All the losses before that, and all the losses since. "It has mostly been due to our batting, but in this tournament we have made 300, 280, 220 and I have seen massive improvements.

"It is a very young team - different to the team that played in the World Cup. We have young guys making hundreds and it is not about [the captain Mohammed] Ashraful any more. "We can make 280 without Ashraful making a run. I'm excited by Raqibul Hasan, Alok Kopali, Saqibul Hasan. We have got some really good talent, but it is going to take a little bit of time." @Email:pradley@thenational.ae

Confirmed bouts (more to be added)

Cory Sandhagen v Umar Nurmagomedov
Nick Diaz v Vicente Luque
Michael Chiesa v Tony Ferguson
Deiveson Figueiredo v Marlon Vera
Mackenzie Dern v Loopy Godinez

Tickets for the August 3 Fight Night, held in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, went on sale earlier this month, through www.etihadarena.ae and www.ticketmaster.ae.

THE 12 BREAKAWAY CLUBS

England

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur

Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus

Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid

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Getting there and where to stay

Etihad Airways operates seasonal flights from Abu Dhabi to Nice Côte d'Azur Airport. Services depart the UAE on Wednesdays and Sundays with outbound flights stopping briefly in Rome, return flights are non-stop. Fares start from Dh3,315, flights operate until September 18, 2022. 

The Radisson Blu Hotel Nice offers a western location right on Promenade des Anglais with rooms overlooking the Bay of Angels. Stays are priced from €101 ($114), including taxes.

Washmen Profile

Date Started: May 2015

Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Laundry

Employees: 170

Funding: about $8m

Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures


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