Pakistan batsman Imam-ul-Haq is enjoying the best season of his career. This year has been a prolific one for the left-handed batsman, with a few records thrown in for good measure.
Imam started 2022 with centuries in both innings of the Rawalpindi Test against Australia in what was a long-awaited tour by the Antipodean side. This, after spending well over a year out of the Test team and also fulfilling 12th man duties.
A fifty in the third Test was a precursor of a record run in white-ball cricket.
In the subsequent home ODI series, Imam blasted back-to-back centuries and capped the tour with an unbeaten 89.
The next assignment, against the visiting West Indies, produced three more fifties, taking his tally to six consecutive fifty-plus scores in ODIs this year and seven overall - making him just the second batsman after the legendary Javed Miandad to achieve that feat.
His run saw Imam climb to second spot in the ICC rankings for ODI batsmen, placing him behind national hero and captain Babar Azam and ahead of India's Virat Kohli.
It has been a satisfying turn of events for the bespectacled southpaw who has long faced criticism for his measured style of batting and also for perceived backing from the establishment; Imam is the nephew of legendary batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq, who was the chief selector until 2019.
Criticism will always be there even when I play my last match
Imam-ul-Haq
“We were not playing white-ball [50-over] cricket [regularly] since 2019, just two or three series, and I was 12th man of the Test side. I was playing well but that form was not getting into matches,” Imam told The National from Sri Lanka ahead of the two-match Test series starting on Saturday.
“I knew I was in good form but was not getting opportunities. If you get opportunities to play continuously, you play better than if you are just sitting outside. I am very thankful I got the chances.”
While it would be safe to assume Imam has made alterations to his game, he insists he has not changed his overall approach.
“I haven’t changed anything. I have been playing international cricket for five years. Experience gives you some extra bytes. It’s a mixture of attacking and pacing your innings. It depends on the situation of the game and as an opener you need to understand how the wicket behaves, what the team needs.”
What could change now is the ferocity of the criticism from his detractors, who took umbrage at his entry into the national set-up when when his uncle Inzamam held selection power.
“Criticism will always be there even when I play my last match. Since 2017 to 2022, I have been criticised for whatever I have done, good or bad. It does not matter.
“Yes, when you score runs, nobody can criticise. But that’s how life is. I really respect everyone. If someone is criticising me, I can’t do anything about it. I just want to be in my bubble where I’m enjoying my game. Critics will always be there.“
Having proven himself in two formats this year, Imam is hopeful of forcing his way into the third, despite featuring in just two T20Is in his career. The T20 World Cup will be held in Australia this year and Imam realises good form throughout should hold him in good stead in his quest to conquer 20-over cricket.
"If you are in good form, everyone can play three formats, if their process is right, if the belief is there. Right now I am playing two formats and I am doing well, so I want it to continue. When I get the opportunity in T20 cricket, I will want to chip in there as well."
More on animal trafficking
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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
FIRST TEST SCORES
England 458
South Africa 361 & 119 (36.4 overs)
England won by 211 runs and lead series 1-0
Player of the match: Moeen Ali (England)
Company%20profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
MATCH INFO
Everton 2 Southampton 1
Everton: Walcott (15'), Richarlison (31' )
Southampton: Ings (54')
Man of the match: Theo Walcott (Everton)
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
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BIG SPENDERS
Premier League clubs spent £230 million (Dh1.15 billion) on January transfers, the second-highest total for the mid-season window, the Sports Business Group at Deloitte said in a report.
Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
Penguin
Profile of Bitex UAE
Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
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MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
Which products are to be taxed?
To be taxed:
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
Products excluded from the ‘sweetened drink’ category would contain at least 75 per cent milk in a ready-to-drink form or as a milk substitute, baby formula, follow-up formula or baby food, beverages consumed for medicinal use and special dietary needs determined as per GCC Standardisation Organisation rules
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Zayed Sustainability Prize
