• UAE's Junaid Siddique after taking the wicket of Nepal's Sompal Kami during the World Cup League 2 match at the Dubai International Stadium on Monday, March 21, 2022. All images Chris Whiteoak / The National
    UAE's Junaid Siddique after taking the wicket of Nepal's Sompal Kami during the World Cup League 2 match at the Dubai International Stadium on Monday, March 21, 2022. All images Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • UAE's Basil Hameed after running out Nepal's Binod Bhandari in Dubai on Monday.
    UAE's Basil Hameed after running out Nepal's Binod Bhandari in Dubai on Monday.
  • UAE's Junaid Siddique after dismissing Nepal's Dipendra Singh Airee.
    UAE's Junaid Siddique after dismissing Nepal's Dipendra Singh Airee.
  • UAE's Rohan Mustafa scored a fine fifty on Monday.
    UAE's Rohan Mustafa scored a fine fifty on Monday.
  • UAE's Kashif Daud after taking the wicket of Nepal's Kushal Bhurtel.
    UAE's Kashif Daud after taking the wicket of Nepal's Kushal Bhurtel.
  • UAE captain Ahmed Raza dismissed Nepal's Aarif Sheikh at the Dubai International Stadium.
    UAE captain Ahmed Raza dismissed Nepal's Aarif Sheikh at the Dubai International Stadium.
  • Muhammad Waseem gave the UAE a solid start.
    Muhammad Waseem gave the UAE a solid start.
  • Nepal's Sandeep Lamichhane bowls UAE's Ahmed Raza.
    Nepal's Sandeep Lamichhane bowls UAE's Ahmed Raza.

Ahmed Raza praises UAE players after packed schedule: 'I think we've earned a break'


Paul Radley
  • English
  • Arabic

Played 19, won 13, lost five, and tied one. As always with cricket, the bare stats scarcely tell the whole story of what has happened to UAE cricket over the past six-and-a-bit weeks.

In the space of 44 days, the national team played more than three times the amount of cricket they did in the whole of 2021, when Covid restricted them to a mere six games.

By the end of it, they were running on fumes, yet still managed to put Nepal away and grab two more precious points towards qualifying for the next 50-over World Cup.

In the space of those 44 days, UAE had achieved their primary aim. Namely, booking a place at the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year after reaching the final – and dominating that, too – in the Qualifier in Muscat.

They got another trophy, besides, by winning a T20 quadrangular series involving Oman, Nepal and Ireland.

For the first time, one of their players was nominated for the ICC’s monthly award. Vriitya Aravind, the student wicketkeeper-batsman, was robbed of the title of player of the month for February by India’s Shreyas Iyer. But, still, to be mentioned in such company represents progress.

Chirag Suri might have joined him among the nominees, so good was his form last month. Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa and Junaid Siddique should figure heavily in the thinking for the March award, too, given their exploits in back-to-back series in Cricket World Cup League 2.

These are heady times for the country’s leading cricketers. And just a little bit tiring, too, according to captain Ahmed Raza.

“It is not so much physical as mental,” Raza said. “We had a tough month in the World Cup Qualifier.

“We started off playing against Oman [in a bilateral one-day international series in which UAE won twice and tied the other]. They were really, really close games, and that takes its toll as well.

“After 19 games, I think we’ve earned a break. We haven’t achieved everything we wanted in terms of the goals we set ourselves. But we are happy to take five wins out of eight.”

  • UAE's Rohan Mustafa celebrates his 50 against Papua New Guinea in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 at Dubai International Stadium. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    UAE's Rohan Mustafa celebrates his 50 against Papua New Guinea in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 at Dubai International Stadium. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • UAE's Rohan Mustafa bats against Papua New Guinea. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    UAE's Rohan Mustafa bats against Papua New Guinea. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • PNG's Alei Nao takes the wicket of UAE's Alishan Sharafu. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    PNG's Alei Nao takes the wicket of UAE's Alishan Sharafu. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • UAE's Rohan Mustafa in action, Chris Whiteoak / The National
    UAE's Rohan Mustafa in action, Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • PNG fans enjoy the occasion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    PNG fans enjoy the occasion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • PNG's Alei Nao takes the wicket of UAE's Alishan Sharafu. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    PNG's Alei Nao takes the wicket of UAE's Alishan Sharafu. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • PNG's Alei Nao takes the wicket of UAE's Alishan Sharafu. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    PNG's Alei Nao takes the wicket of UAE's Alishan Sharafu. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • UAE's Vriitya Aravind bats. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    UAE's Vriitya Aravind bats. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • UAE's Basil Hameed is run out. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    UAE's Basil Hameed is run out. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • UAE's Rohan Mustafa bats. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    UAE's Rohan Mustafa bats. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • PNG's Alei Nao takes the wicket of UAE's Muhammad Waseem. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    PNG's Alei Nao takes the wicket of UAE's Muhammad Waseem. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • UAE's Muhammad Waseem bats. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    UAE's Muhammad Waseem bats. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • PNG's Alei Nao takes the wicket of UAE's Chirag Suri. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    PNG's Alei Nao takes the wicket of UAE's Chirag Suri. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • UAE's Rohan Mustafa bats. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    UAE's Rohan Mustafa bats. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Raza rated his side’s achievements as “eight out of 10” over the packed period of matches. Muscat represented mission accomplished, but he felt there had been points there for the taking in two defeats to Oman, and one to Papua New Guinea, in the 50-over league games played in Dubai.

“The Oman losses will hurt me more than the PNG game,” Raza said.

“We didn’t really turn up for the PNG game, but those points dropped against Oman will hurt me a lot more because we were right in those games. I could have won one of them for my team.

“Five wins out of eight is still a top effort, especially for the fast bowlers who performed day in, day out, right up to the last day of the series. That takes a hell of a lot of effort.”

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It might not be a unique situation for them this year, either. Before heading off for holidays after the tri-series involving Nepal and PNG, UAE’s players were being booked in to attend the United States embassy as part of the visa process for their next World Cup league assignment. They are set to face USA and Scotland in Florida at the end of May.

August and September could be a hefty workload depending on how they fare in Asia Cup qualifying. They are due to fly straight from a 50-over tri-series in Scotland to Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup Qualifier with Kuwait, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Navigate that, and they would be pitted into competition with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

All of which would be the precursor to playing at the T20 World Cup in Australia in October.

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.

As Raza points out, the stress on fast bowlers will be particularly acute. Happily for the national team, their quicks excelled given the extra workload of late.

In particular, Siddique, a fast bowler who was deprived cricket at the start of 2021 because of lower back injury, but who has bounced back to become the leader of UAE’s attack.

In the final game of the series of 19, he produced a ball to dismiss Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee which he deemed the best he has ever bowled in his life. That was one of a haul of four wickets in the game, his best yet in ODI cricket.

“Producing such a spell right at the end of the run of 19 games takes a lot of skill and a lot of heart,” Raza said.

“Junaid has proven he is our main strike bowler with the kind of starts he has given us.”

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Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

The biog

Hometown: Cairo

Age: 37

Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror

Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing

Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition

VEZEETA PROFILE

Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

Thanksgiving meals to try

World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.

Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as  well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.

The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.

Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.

Medicus AI

Started: 2016

Founder(s): Dr Baher Al Hakim, Dr Nadine Nehme and Makram Saleh

Based: Vienna, Austria; started in Dubai

Sector: Health Tech

Staff: 119

Funding: €7.7 million (Dh31m)

 

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Astroworld
Travis Scott
Grand Hustle/Epic/Cactus Jack

Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?

The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.

A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.

Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.

The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.

When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.

Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

WITHIN%20SAND
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MATCH INFO

Manchester United 2 (Heaton (og) 42', Lindelof 64')

Aston Villa 2 (Grealish 11', Mings 66')

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES

All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated

Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid

Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona

RESULTS

1.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winners: Hyde Park, Royston Ffrench (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)

2.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Shamikh, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard

2.45pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Hurry Up, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.

3.15pm: Shadwell Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 (TB) Dh575,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Blown by Wind, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer

3.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh72,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Mazagran, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

4.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh64,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner: Obeyaan, Adrie de Vries, Mujeeb Rehman

4.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

What sanctions would be reimposed?

Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:

  • An arms embargo
  • A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
  • A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
  • A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
  • Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Updated: March 23, 2022, 1:04 PM