• England captain Heather Knight will lead Barmy Army in the FarBreak Invitational tournament in Dubai in May 2022. Photos: FairBreak Global unless stated
    England captain Heather Knight will lead Barmy Army in the FarBreak Invitational tournament in Dubai in May 2022. Photos: FairBreak Global unless stated
  • UAE batter Kavisha Kumari receives her cap from her new Barmy Army captain, Heather Knight.
    UAE batter Kavisha Kumari receives her cap from her new Barmy Army captain, Heather Knight.
  • UAE batter Kavisha Kumari trains with her Barmy Army teammates.
    UAE batter Kavisha Kumari trains with her Barmy Army teammates.
  • England's Sophie Ecclestone, second left, who is the world's No 1 ranked bowler, will play for Spirit in the FairBreak Invitational to be played in the UAE.
    England's Sophie Ecclestone, second left, who is the world's No 1 ranked bowler, will play for Spirit in the FairBreak Invitational to be played in the UAE.
  • UAE coach Najeeb Amar is part of the backroom staff for Barmy Army.
    UAE coach Najeeb Amar is part of the backroom staff for Barmy Army.
  • West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin.
    West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin.
  • Heather Knight and Deandra Dottin take a drinks break.
    Heather Knight and Deandra Dottin take a drinks break.
  • Warriors players run during training at the Dubai International Stadium. AFP
    Warriors players run during training at the Dubai International Stadium. AFP
  • Yasmin Daswani of Warriors team catches the ball during training. AFP
    Yasmin Daswani of Warriors team catches the ball during training. AFP
  • Warriors players during a warmup routine. AFP
    Warriors players during a warmup routine. AFP
  • Warriors' Yasmin Daswani, centre, catches the ball. AFP
    Warriors' Yasmin Daswani, centre, catches the ball. AFP
  • Warriors players exercise during training in Dubai.
    Warriors players exercise during training in Dubai.
  • Warriors' Sarah Bryce catches the ball. AFP
    Warriors' Sarah Bryce catches the ball. AFP
  • A Warriors player throws the ball during training. AFP
    A Warriors player throws the ball during training. AFP

FairBreak Invitational 'about bringing different people from women’s cricket together'


Paul Radley
  • English
  • Arabic

So a new, short-format cricket tournament is set to launch in Dubai. One that welcomes the world beyond cricket’s established borders.

One that will see the leading players in the game share the dressing room, the new ball, and stories with players from as far afield as Botswana, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda and Bhutan.

We were supposed to have been here before. But where the UAE T20x, a competition designed along similar lines to champion the game’s have-nots alongside its rich and famous, foundered before the stage of even selecting players, the FairBreak Invitational is all set for launch.

On Wednesday night, two sets of players who have only recently met each other will be pitted against each other at the Dubai International Stadium.

The six-team tournament will reach its conclusion at the same ground on May 15. The fare on offer is guaranteed to be something never-before-seen on these shores.

New T20 franchise competitions around the world always say they are going to be unique. They say their one will be different, and jazzy, and exciting.

Then the hired hands are the same guys you saw in a similar tournament in a different venue, in a different country, a month or so earlier. And a month or so before that. Different team names, perhaps. But all packaged in broadly the same way and presented by broadly the same people.

FairBreak, though, has a fair to claim to being unique.

“Within my team, I was chatting to the Nepal captain this morning about captaincy.” So said Heather Knight, whose most recent assignment in cricket was overseeing England’s ultimately doomed attempt to topple the mighty Australia in the World Cup final last month.

Now, she is in Dubai, playing for a team bearing the name of the supporters club more readily associated with the England men’s side. She has been trading notes about leadership with Rubina Chhetry, the Nepal captain who is also part of the Barmy Army side, but who has had a totally different journey in the game to get to this point.

Players to watch

  • Heather Knight (England) - The Barmy Army captain has scored centuries in all three formats of international cricket, and led England to the World Cup final last month. Getty Images
    Heather Knight (England) - The Barmy Army captain has scored centuries in all three formats of international cricket, and led England to the World Cup final last month. Getty Images
  • Stafanie Taylor (West Indies) - The Jamaican remains the only cricketer ever to have been ranked No 1 at the same time in both bowling and batting in the ICC standings, which she managed in 2013. AFP
    Stafanie Taylor (West Indies) - The Jamaican remains the only cricketer ever to have been ranked No 1 at the same time in both bowling and batting in the ICC standings, which she managed in 2013. AFP
  • Suzie Bates (New Zealand) - More than 8,000 runs in international cricket for New Zealand, including most recently a century against Pakistan in the World Cup. AFP
    Suzie Bates (New Zealand) - More than 8,000 runs in international cricket for New Zealand, including most recently a century against Pakistan in the World Cup. AFP
  • Sophie Ecclestone (England) - The slow left-armer is the world’s No 1 ranked limited-overs bowler, and bowled England to the World Cup final last month. Getty Images
    Sophie Ecclestone (England) - The slow left-armer is the world’s No 1 ranked limited-overs bowler, and bowled England to the World Cup final last month. Getty Images
  • Theertha Satish (UAE) - A schoolgirl who only started playing cricket less than three years ago, she has played 14 T20Is for UAE so far – and been on the winning side in every one. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Theertha Satish (UAE) - A schoolgirl who only started playing cricket less than three years ago, she has played 14 T20Is for UAE so far – and been on the winning side in every one. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Sana Mir (Pakistan) - Two years into retirement, the former captain-turned-commentator will be returning to the playing field to lead South Coast Sapphires. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
    Sana Mir (Pakistan) - Two years into retirement, the former captain-turned-commentator will be returning to the playing field to lead South Coast Sapphires. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
  • Fatima Sana (Pakistan) - Named the ICC’s emerging cricketer of the year for 2021 after breakthrough performances for Pakistan as an allrounder. Getty Images
    Fatima Sana (Pakistan) - Named the ICC’s emerging cricketer of the year for 2021 after breakthrough performances for Pakistan as an allrounder. Getty Images
  • Esha Oza (UAE) - The big-hitting 23-year-old made the highest score ever by a UAE cricketer – male or female – in a T20 international in Oman last month. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Esha Oza (UAE) - The big-hitting 23-year-old made the highest score ever by a UAE cricketer – male or female – in a T20 international in Oman last month. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Mignon du Preez (South Africa) - The South African batter retired this month after representing her country more than 250 times in international cricket, and will take up a new role with FairBreak. Action Images
    Mignon du Preez (South Africa) - The South African batter retired this month after representing her country more than 250 times in international cricket, and will take up a new role with FairBreak. Action Images
  • Kavisha Kumari (UAE) - Became the first female player to score a century against a male team in UAE when she did so in the Gulf Cup in Ajman at the turn of the year. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Kavisha Kumari (UAE) - Became the first female player to score a century against a male team in UAE when she did so in the Gulf Cup in Ajman at the turn of the year. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) - Arrives in Dubai in prime touch having made five half-centuries in the space of six trips to the crease at the World Cup in New Zealand. AFP
    Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) - Arrives in Dubai in prime touch having made five half-centuries in the space of six trips to the crease at the World Cup in New Zealand. AFP
  • Sophie Devine (New Zealand) - A former international hockey player for New Zealand, Devine has racked up over 2,500 runs in T20 international cricket. Getty Images
    Sophie Devine (New Zealand) - A former international hockey player for New Zealand, Devine has racked up over 2,500 runs in T20 international cricket. Getty Images
  • Chaya Mughal (UAE) - UAE’s captain takes time out from her job as a teacher to play. She will be alongside some of the stars of the game when she turns out for Spirit. Pawan Singh / The National
    Chaya Mughal (UAE) - UAE’s captain takes time out from her job as a teacher to play. She will be alongside some of the stars of the game when she turns out for Spirit. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Shabnim Ismail (South Africa) - The all-time leading wicket-taker for South Africa’s women’s side, she has also featured in Australia’s Big Bash and The Hundred in the UK. AFP
    Shabnim Ismail (South Africa) - The all-time leading wicket-taker for South Africa’s women’s side, she has also featured in Australia’s Big Bash and The Hundred in the UK. AFP
  • Elyse Villani (Australia) - Many of Australia’s leading lights are unavailable for the FairBreak event, but the country’s female cricketer of the year for 2021 has made it to Dubai for the tournament. Getty Images
    Elyse Villani (Australia) - Many of Australia’s leading lights are unavailable for the FairBreak event, but the country’s female cricketer of the year for 2021 has made it to Dubai for the tournament. Getty Images
  • Danni Wyatt (England) - The England opener, who will be playing for the Falcons in Dubai, has two centuries to her name in T20 internationals. Getty Images
    Danni Wyatt (England) - The England opener, who will be playing for the Falcons in Dubai, has two centuries to her name in T20 internationals. Getty Images

Also in their side they have players from Vanuatu, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, and a Brazilian who can’t speak English – but will be able to communicate thanks to the presence of another teammate from her home national team who can.

“There is probably nothing like it in men’s or women’s cricket – Associate players playing alongside Full member nations,” Knight said.

“There are so many countries represented, it has been so interesting for me to find out about what cricket is like in their country and the different challenges they have.

“The tournament is not completely just about the cricket. It is about bringing different people from women’s cricket together.

“Certainly women’s cricket doesn’t have the most equal spread around the world in terms of funding. The funding is based on the men’s game, which makes it a bit of a challenge for some countries.”

For the majority of the 90 players in the competition, the concept of being paid to play cricket – as they will be for this event - is entirely new, too.

Most are just grateful for the opportunity to play matches in their home countries, in between studies or working.

The fact this tournament is being played in Dubai is a quirk of circumstances brought about – much like the Indian Premier League and T20 World Cup earlier this season – by the Covid pandemic.

It had been due to be staged in Hong Kong, but a 21-day quarantine process there at the height of the pandemic led to the organisers to seek a temporary new home. It will likely head to Hong Kong in the future.

For now, though, its organisers cannot wait to get started.

“We have taken a long time putting together teams with players from all over the world,” said Geoff Lawson, the former Australia fast bowler who is part of the league’s management team.

“It has been a massive undertaking. To research all the players we have found has been tough work.

“The leading international players have had a few weeks off after a tough World Cup. They spent a lot of emotion and physical energy at the World Cup.

“They have got here, got to meet the Associate players. From what I have seen, we have teams who will gel and compete.

"From a pure cricket point of view, it is such an exciting place to be.”

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

The biog

Name: Shamsa Hassan Safar

Nationality: Emirati

Education: Degree in emergency medical services at Higher Colleges of Technology

Favourite book: Between two hearts- Arabic novels

Favourite music: Mohammed Abdu and modern Arabic songs

Favourite way to spend time off: Family visits and spending time with friends

PROFILE OF SWVL

Started: April 2017

Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport

Size: 450 employees

Investment: approximately $80 million

Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani

UAE SQUAD

 Khalid Essa (Al Ain), Ali Khaseif (Al Jazira), Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah), Mahmoud Khamis (Al Nasr), Yousef Jaber (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai), Khalifa Al Hammadi (Jazira), Salem Rashid (Jazira), Shaheen Abdelrahman (Sharjah), Faris Juma (Al Wahda), Mohammed Shaker (Al Ain), Mohammed Barghash (Wahda), Abdulaziz Haikal (Shabab Al Ahli), Ahmed Barman (Al Ain), Khamis Esmail (Wahda), Khaled Bawazir (Sharjah), Majed Surour (Sharjah), Abdullah Ramadan (Jazira), Mohammed Al Attas (Jazira), Fabio De Lima (Al Wasl), Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Khalfan Mubarak (Jazira), Habib Fardan (Nasr), Khalil Ibrahim (Wahda), Ali Mabkhout (Jazira), Ali Saleh (Wasl), Caio (Al Ain), Sebastian Tagliabue (Nasr).

Herc's Adventures

Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5

Previous men's records
  • 2:01:39: Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) on 16/9/19 in Berlin
  • 2:02:57: Dennis Kimetto (KEN) on 28/09/2014 in Berlin
  • 2:03:23: Wilson Kipsang (KEN) on 29/09/2013 in Berlin
  • 2:03:38: Patrick Makau (KEN) on 25/09/2011 in Berlin
  • 2:03:59: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 28/09/2008 in Berlin
  • 2:04:26: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 30/09/2007 in Berlin
  • 2:04:55: Paul Tergat (KEN) on 28/09/2003 in Berlin
  • 2:05:38: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 14/04/2002 in London
  • 2:05:42: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 24/10/1999 in Chicago
  • 2:06:05: Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) 20/09/1998 in Berlin
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg

Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).

Second leg

Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm

Games on BeIN Sports

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

Price: From Dh147,000

Available: Now

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nicola%20Coughlan%2C%20Luke%20Newton%2C%20Jonathan%20Bailey%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)

On sale: Now

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

Results

5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: Panadol, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)

6.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m, Winner: Mayehaab, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass

6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Monoski, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer

7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Eastern World, Royston Ffrench, Charlie Appleby

7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Madkal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass

8.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Taneen, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi

Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances

All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.

Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.

Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.

Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.

Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.

Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.

Updated: May 03, 2022, 10:33 AM