Judging by their exquisite 83-run partnership for UAE against Hong Kong on Wednesday night, Kavisha Kumari and Theertha Satish share a fine understanding.
For now, that is for the benefit of the national team. Their alliance in the first game in Ajman extended UAE’s winning sequence to 11 matches, which is the longest ongoing run in women’s T20 international cricket at present.
Next week, Kumari is hoping their affinity can be put to good use again, even though they will be on opposing sides at the FairBreak Invitational in Dubai.
Kumari, a 19-year-old all-rounder, is chuffed to be part of the Barmy Army side at the new, six-team T20 competition. Especially as it means she will get to play alongside Laura Wolvaardt, the South African batter.
Still, though, she is hopeful her UAE national team colleague Theertha might be able to smuggle her into her own dressing room at least once during the course of the event.
“I am fortunate enough to have Laura in my team,” Kumari said.
“I was looking forward to being alongside her. Also, I am Sri Lankan so I was hoping to be in the same team as Chamari Athapaththu so she could mentor me.
“I wanted to learn from her and eat her brain a bit. Unfortunately, she is in another team [the Falcons].
"She is in Theertha’s team, so I will be going along with Theertha and ask her to introduce me, saying, ‘Hi Chamari, how are you?’
“I want to pick her brain. A cricketer like her, coming from Sri Lanka, is a big thing for me. I always look up her innings. She is a power-hitter, just beautiful to watch.”
Four UAE players – Kumari, Theertha, Esha Oza and Chaya Mughal – are confirmed participants for the FairBreak event, where they will be mixing with some leading lights of the world game.
Rather than being daunted by the prospect of facing the likes of Sophie Ecclestone, the No 1 ranked bowler in the world, Kumari is thrilled by it.
Plus she has some decent form to back it up, too. Her match-winning half-century in the first T20I against Hong Kong at the Malek Cricket Ground was her fourth in five matches for the national team.
“I hope I can continue that for as long as possible,” said Kumari, who is a computer engineering student at Middlesex University in Dubai.
“Since the Gulf Cup I have had a good run of continuous half centuries. I want to keep this form going on and do well for my team as a batter.
“I just think about what a great opportunity this is. I don’t think about how the other team is. I just go and do my thing and hope for the best.”
Although the four locally-based players are the envy of their national team colleagues, Kumari is sure their FairBreak experience is going to work well for everyone in the women’s game.
“It is exciting that it is being played at Dubai stadium,” she said.
“It means family members can come to watch, which wouldn’t have been the case if it was in Hong Kong because of the expense.
“Now everyone can come to watch – my family, friends – and I will be getting to rub shoulders with elite players.
“Getting to learn from them is a big thing. Picking up tactics, seeing how they do this and that, means we will be able to improve even more.
“Then I can bring those tips back to my teammates as well. That will be a good fit for us as an associate nation.”
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
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
In the Restaurant: Society in Four Courses
Christoph Ribbat
Translated by Jamie Searle Romanelli
Pushkin Press
THE SPECS
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
On sale: now
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 290hp
Torque: 340Nm
Price: Dh155,800
On sale: now
Monday's results
- UAE beat Bahrain by 51 runs
- Qatar beat Maldives by 44 runs
- Saudi Arabia beat Kuwait by seven wickets
Volunteers offer workers a lifeline
Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.
When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.
Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.
Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.
“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.
Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.
“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.
The Two Popes
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce
Four out of five stars
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
If you go
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Santiago, via Sao Paolo cost from Dh5,295 with Emirates.
The trip
A five-day trip (not including two days of flight travel) was split between Santiago and in Puerto Varas, with more time spent in the later where excursions were organised by TurisTour.
When to go
The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season
Stage 2
1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix 4:18:30
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:06
3. Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma 0:00:06
4. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:06
5. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:08
BLACK%20ADAM
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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
Top%2010%20most%20competitive%20economies
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport