• Pakistan's Haris Rauf picked up four wickets in the T20 World Cup match against New Zealand in Sharjah on Tuesday, October 26, 2021. AP
    Pakistan's Haris Rauf picked up four wickets in the T20 World Cup match against New Zealand in Sharjah on Tuesday, October 26, 2021. AP
  • Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf bowled with extreme pace and also used variations in the T20 World Cup match against New Zealand at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. AFP
    Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf bowled with extreme pace and also used variations in the T20 World Cup match against New Zealand at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. AFP
  • Haris Rauf celebrates the dismissal of New Zealand's Devon Conway. AFP
    Haris Rauf celebrates the dismissal of New Zealand's Devon Conway. AFP
  • Shaheen Afridi of Pakistan celebrates the wicket of Tim Seifert. Getty
    Shaheen Afridi of Pakistan celebrates the wicket of Tim Seifert. Getty
  • Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi was on fire in Sharjah on Tuesday. AFP
    Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi was on fire in Sharjah on Tuesday. AFP
  • Shoaib Malik guided Pakistan to victory in Sharjah on Tuesday. Getty
    Shoaib Malik guided Pakistan to victory in Sharjah on Tuesday. Getty
  • Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan with teammate Shoaib Malik. AP
    Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan with teammate Shoaib Malik. AP
  • Pakistan's Asif Ali hits a six in Sharjah. AP
    Pakistan's Asif Ali hits a six in Sharjah. AP
  • Pakistan's captain Babar Azam is clean bowled by New Zealand's Tim Southee. AFP
    Pakistan's captain Babar Azam is clean bowled by New Zealand's Tim Southee. AFP
  • Tim Seifert of New Zealand successfully appeals for the wicket of Fakhar Zaman. Getty
    Tim Seifert of New Zealand successfully appeals for the wicket of Fakhar Zaman. Getty
  • Pakistan's fans celebrate as captain Babar Azam takes a catch to dismiss New Zealand's Devon Conway. AP
    Pakistan's fans celebrate as captain Babar Azam takes a catch to dismiss New Zealand's Devon Conway. AP

New Zealand confirm two tours of Pakistan next season after controversial cancellations


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New Zealand Cricket on Monday announced back-to-back tours of Pakistan next season, after the abrupt and controversial decision to cancel this year's tour on security grounds.

The Black Caps will tour Pakistan from December 2022 to January 2023 to play two World Test Championship fixtures and three one-day internationals, New Zealand administrators said.

The world's No 2 Test team will then return to Pakistan in April for five one-day internationals and five Twenty20 matches.

In September, New Zealand caused a diplomatic incident by cancelling a series in Pakistan just as the first one-dayer was due to start in Rawalpindi. The team quickly left the country with little explanation about the nature of the threat.

England cancelled their own Pakistan tour soon after.

At the time Pakistan's interior minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad was adamant there was "no threat to cricket in Pakistan, there was no threat to New Zealand and there is no threat to England".

The cancellations had been a huge setback for Pakistan, who have struggled to entice foreign sides back after home internationals were suspended after a deadly terror attack on the Sri Lanka Test side in 2009.

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ramiz Raja welcomed the news. "This reflects the strong, cordial and historic relations" between the two cricket boards, he said.

He added the move "reconfirms Pakistan's status as an important member of the cricket fraternity."

Dates for the fixtures are yet to be announced.

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Sui Dhaaga: Made in India

Director: Sharat Katariya

Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav

3.5/5

THE SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo

Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic

Power: 169bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Price: Dh54,500

On sale: now

Directed: Smeep Kang
Produced: Soham Rockstar Entertainment; SKE Production
Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Jimmy Sheirgill, Sunny Singh, Omkar Kapoor, Rajesh Sharma
Rating: Two out of five stars 

UAE's role in anti-extremism recognised

General John Allen, President of the Brookings Institution research group, commended the role the UAE has played in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

He told a Globsec debate of the UAE’s "hugely outsized" role in the fight against Isis.

"It’s trite these days to say that any country punches above its weight, but in every possible way the Emirates did, both militarily, and very importantly, the UAE was extraordinarily helpful on getting to the issue of violent extremism," he said.

He also noted the impact that Hedayah, among others in the UAE, has played in addressing violent extremism.

Sarfira

Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal 

Rating: 2/5

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

Company profile

Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space

Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)

Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)

Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi 

Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution) 

Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space  

Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

MATCH INFO

Serie A

Juventus v Fiorentina, Saturday, 8pm (UAE)

Match is on BeIN Sports

The finalists

Player of the Century, 2001-2020: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Ronaldinho

Coach of the Century, 2001-2020: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Jose Mourinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid), Sir Alex Ferguson

Club of the Century, 2001-2020: Al Ahly (Egypt), Bayern Munich (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Real Madrid (Spain)

Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

Club of the Year: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid

Coach of the Year: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Hans-Dieter Flick (Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)

Agent of the Century, 2001-2020: Giovanni Branchini, Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola

Updated: December 20, 2021, 8:20 AM