Well, it was fun while it lasted. At least five other teams got a go at winning the T20 World Cup before Australia got the hang of it.
Now cricket’s most successful nation have ticked off the only major title to have eluded them, after beating New Zealand in a one-sided final at the Dubai International Stadium.
Given Australia have featured in almost half the World Cup finals which have ever been staged in the two limited-overs formats, it was a surprise it took them so long to win this one.
They might not have to wait too long to double up their haul, either. This tournament had initially been due to be staged in Australia, only for Covid to have its say.
In 12 months’ time, they will get the chance to defend their title on home soil. They were not favourites for this tournament in the UAE, but they might well be for the next one.
They might have needed a spectacular late run spree to win their semi-final against Pakistan. The final, by contrast, was a complete cruise.
Josh Hazlewood took 3-16, as he played a key role in a side wearing yellow winning a major title in Dubai for the second time in a month, having won the Indian Premier League with Chennai Super Kings in October.
David Warner banished the memory of his own pitiful IPL campaign in these same stadia with three telling contributions as the T20 World Cup reached its climax. And Mitchell Marsh had the honour of hitting the winning runs, to set the seal on the eight-wicket triumph with seven balls of the tournament left over.
In truth, the game had felt as good as over as soon as Aaron Finch was interviewed first at the toss. After hearing the news Australia were going to field first, spectators stuck in traffic en route to the game might have been minded to turn round and go home.
Even apart from the dominance of sides batting second at this ground in this competition, the flip of the coin is crucial in finals. Of the six T20 World Cup finals which had preceeded this one, only Pakistan, in 2009, had won after losing the toss.
Even before that, Australia had exuded calm. By the time they arrived at the ground – just after tremors were felt from an earthquake centring in Iran – New Zealand were already well into their full-on, pre-game warm up.
By contrast, Australia’s players exerted themselves with little more strenuous activity than a few throw downs, and some games of keepy-uppy with a football.
New Zealand’s top-orders batters looked uptight when they made it to the crease, especially in the face of probing bowling from Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.
They posted their lowest Powerplay score of the competition, 32 for one, and Martin Guptill crawled to 28 from 35 balls.
At least Kane Williamson stood up to the onslaught. He had one notable slice of good fortune in doing so. New Zealand’s captain had made 21 off his first 21 balls when he was dropped on the boundary by Hazlewood off Mitchell Starc.
He laced the next ball for four – and took his last 26 balls for 60 runs as he made 85 from 48 balls.
His was the major contribution in New Zealand’s total of 172-4. Although that was – at that point – the highest score in a T20 World Cup final, bettering West Indies last time out in India, it felt a long way short of what was required.
The Black Caps did have some early joy in the reply, as Finch continued his miserable run in ICC knockout matches by being dismissed for five by Trent Boult.
Marsh signalled his intent, though, as he blazed 14 off the first three balls he faced, all from Adam Milne.
Once he and Warner, who made 53, had put on 92 for the second wicket, the game was as good as done.
Marsh himself finished unbeaten on 77. Glenn Maxwell reverse swept the winning runs away through third man off Tim Southee to start the party for Australia.
Best Academy: Ajax and Benfica
Best Agent: Jorge Mendes
Best Club : Liverpool
Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker
Best Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP
Best Referee: Stephanie Frappart
Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)
Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)
Best Women's Player: Lucy Bronze
Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi
Kooora – Best Arab Club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Kooora – Best Arab Player: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia)
Player Career Award: Miralem Pjanic and Ryan Giggs
FIXTURES
Saturday, November 3
Japan v New Zealand
Wales v Scotland
England v South Africa
Ireland v Italy
Saturday, November 10
Italy v Georgia
Scotland v Fiji
England v New Zealand
Wales v Australia
Ireland v Argentina
France v South Africa
Saturday, November 17
Italy v Australia
Wales v Tonga
England v Japan
Scotland v South Africa
Ireland v New Zealand
Saturday, November 24
|Italy v New Zealand
Scotland v Argentina
England v Australia
Wales v South Africa
Ireland v United States
France v Fiji
Griselda
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Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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
Sweet%20Tooth
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THE BIO
Ms Al Ameri likes the variety of her job, and the daily environmental challenges she is presented with.
Regular contact with wildlife is the most appealing part of her role at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.
She loves to explore new destinations and lives by her motto of being a voice in the world, and not an echo.
She is the youngest of three children, and has a brother and sister.
Her favourite book, Moby Dick by Herman Melville helped inspire her towards a career exploring the natural world.
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
UAE v Ireland
1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets
2nd ODI, January 12
3rd ODI, January 14
4th ODI, January 16
Stats at a glance:
Cost: 1.05 billion pounds (Dh 4.8 billion)
Number in service: 6
Complement 191 (space for up to 285)
Top speed: over 32 knots
Range: Over 7,000 nautical miles
Length 152.4 m
Displacement: 8,700 tonnes
Beam: 21.2 m
Draught: 7.4 m
