• Spectators watch from fenced pens the Cricket Twenty20 World Cup match between South Africa and Australia in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (AP Photo / Kamran Jebreili)
    Spectators watch from fenced pens the Cricket Twenty20 World Cup match between South Africa and Australia in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (AP Photo / Kamran Jebreili)
  • Spectators watch the match family-friendly enclosures at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. AP
    Spectators watch the match family-friendly enclosures at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. AP
  • Spectators watch the match in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. AP
    Spectators watch the match in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. AP
  • Spectators watch from fenced off areas in Abu Dhabi. AP
    Spectators watch from fenced off areas in Abu Dhabi. AP
  • Spectators watch the opening match of the T20 World Cup from special fenced areas on the grass banks of Zayed Cricket Stadium. AP
    Spectators watch the opening match of the T20 World Cup from special fenced areas on the grass banks of Zayed Cricket Stadium. AP
  • South Africa's David Miller, left, and teammate Aiden Markram during the T20 World Cup match against Australia in Abu Dhabi. AP
    South Africa's David Miller, left, and teammate Aiden Markram during the T20 World Cup match against Australia in Abu Dhabi. AP
  • South Africa supporters masks sit inside small fences, erected for supporters to maintain social distancing at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. EPA
    South Africa supporters masks sit inside small fences, erected for supporters to maintain social distancing at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. EPA
  • Ground staff erect special enclosures for spectators in Abu Dhabi. EPA
    Ground staff erect special enclosures for spectators in Abu Dhabi. EPA

Family 'pods' at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi have internet abuzz - in pictures


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The opening match of the T20 World Cup was a cause of celebration, not just for the action on the field but activities off it as well.

The Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi is one of the most futuristic venues in the world, and it continued its pioneering ways on Saturday by introducing a special feature for spectators as Australia took on South Africa.

Fans attending the match got to witness the game from special socially-distanced family 'pods' on the grass banks. Organisers put up the fenced off enclosures for families of up to four to watch the match while maintaining health and safety standards.

Social media was quick to pick up the unique structures, with many commending the organisers for the move.

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance

Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.

Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.

The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

Power: 178hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 280Nm at 1,350-4,200rpm

Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto

Price: from Dh209,000 

On sale: now

Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Updated: October 24, 2021, 10:27 AM