The decision to appoint former Pakistani cricketer Mudassar Nazar as batting coach for the UAE with the 2015 World Cup in mind seems a fine choice on paper and the best utilisation of resources.
He has been in the UAE for some time in a role with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and knows a thing or two about domestic cricket.
The addition of the former all-rounder will complement national coach Aaqib Javed, who was a fast bowler. As if to underline Nazar’s different approach, the former opener said: “I used to love batting more than fielding.”
Nazar started his Test career in Australia and ended it in New Zealand. He also played in England, outside of the subcontinent.
His Test batting career average (38.09) was better than his average in the one-day format (25.26).
Against the World Cup host countries he averaged 20.57 in 21 ODIs, the last of which he played in March of 1989.
The UAE squad will leave for an acclimatisation trip to Australia on Sunday, but for many of the expatriates, who all have full-time jobs, it remains a tough task for them to give the time and focus they will need between this trip and the tournament.
There are no competitive games lined up against the cricketing elite, despite the ICC's best efforts to help Associate teams.
The absence of a professional set-up has been a perennial problem and priority should be given to addressing that ahead of UAE cricket’s biggest moment since they played in the 1996 World Cup.
UAE cricket failed to build on that appearance on the subcontinent but the opportunity must not be allowed to let slip this time.
Financial constraints should not be a hindrance or there will be many years again before the UAE can expect again to reach the games biggest stage.
Releasing the financial shackles may also have better served the team if they had attracted a coach with Australian or New Zealand experience to help with the batting.
Such an appointment would have provided someone who could impart knowledge on how to tackle the pace and bounce the team can expect at the World Cup and offer first-hand information on the type of pitches to expect during the tournament.
The rare show of initiative by Inidan cricket authorities to appoint Australian bowling great Glenn McGrath is the sort of path the UAE could have followed that would have provided great benefit.
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The five new places of worship
Church of South Indian Parish
St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch
St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch
St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais
Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais
Punchy appearance
Roars of support buoyed Mr Johnson in an extremely confident and combative appearance
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
