The UAE will be playing in two separate cricket world cups in the same month in the same state in Australia.
The men’s national team are getting ready to appear at a second T20 World Cup in Victoria.
Their first-round matches start in Geelong on October 16 with a fixture against the Netherlands, before they face Sri Lanka and Namibia.
If there is a gap in their practice schedule in the lead up to that, a number of their players are looking into the possibility of going along to watch the Indoor Cricket World Cup in Melbourne.
The UAE will also be represented in that event – and the side might well be harbouring even loftier ambitions in that than their outdoor colleagues.
Dubai hosted the Indoor Cricket World Cup the last time it was played, back in 2017.
Although Australia maintained their domination of the format by taking that title in Al Quoz – they have won all 10 editions of the Indoor Cricket World Cup – the UAE impressed during the tournament.
According to Vikrant Shetty, who has represented the country in both T20 and indoor World Cups in the past, they are confident of making an impression this time around, too.
“The indoor World Cup happens every three years, but because of Covid, this has been delayed by two years,” Shetty said.
“The team has changed a fair bit since we played in Dubai five years ago.
“Australia are the No 1 side, having won all the World Cups up until now. But hopefully the gap is closing up now.
“From our side, we feel better than we did in 2017. We have practised better, we have a coach who has come in from Sri Lanka, having played five World Cups himself.
“We feel more confident than we did last time, when we ranked No 5 out of nine nations. Hopefully, we can do better than last time.”
Shetty thinks the UAE are right to feel optimistic about their chances, given the quantity and standard of indoor matches played at facilities like Insportz and United Pro Sports in Dubai.
He also points to the boost the game will get from the construction of Danube Sports World, a new multi-sport indoor centre in Dubai.
“According to the World Indoor Cricket Federation, the UAE plays the most amount of [indoor] cricket worldwide,” said Shetty, who is part of a side who have recently taken wins off Sri Lanka, England and South Africa.
“We have a high density of indoor centres, and there are so many tournaments happening on a regular basis that there is a real growth in competitiveness.
“There is so much cricket played that sometimes even we, as a national team, have struggled to get court time.”
Shetty and Ahmed Raza, who were teammates when the UAE played at the 2014 World T20 in Bangladesh, travelled to the 2015 50-over World Cup in Australia to support the national team.
Now Raza is part of the side vying to progress in the T20 World Cup, while Shetty is a mainstay of the indoor team.
Raza will probably make the trip from to Geelong to Casey Stadium, the venue for the indoor event, if time permits, in order to support his mate.
The indoor team, for their part, are aiming to stay on in Melbourne and repay the gesture at the T20 matches at Kardinia Park in Geelong.
“It’s no coincidence that it’s happened like this, because the Australian board has organised everything,” Shetty said.
“They scheduled it so the tournament happens before the [T20 World Cup preliminary round matches] start on October 16.
"Our tournament finishes the night before, and our guys plan to stay back and watch the outdoor.”
The UAE will begin their Indoor Cricket World Cup campaign when they play Sri Lanka on Saturday October 8.
UAE fixtures
Sunday, October 16 – UAE v Netherlands (Geelong)
Tuesday, October 18 – UAE v Sri Lanka (Geelong)
Thursday, October 20 – UAE v Namibia (Geelong)
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2)
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Company%20profile
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Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
RESULTS
2.30pm Jaguar I-Pace – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt)
1,600m
Winner Namrood, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Musabah Al Muhairi
(trainer)
3.05pm Land Rover Defender – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D)
1,400m
Winner Shadzadi, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar
3.40pm Jaguar F-Type – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner Tahdeed, Fernando Jara, Nicholas Bachalard
4.15pm New Range Rover – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
Winner Shanty Star, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly
4.50pm Land Rover – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 2,400m
Winner Autumn Pride, Bernardo Pinheiro, Helal Al Alawi
5.25pm Al Tayer Motor – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 T) 1,000m
Winner Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
6pm Jaguar F-Pace SVR – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,600m
Winner Scabbard, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
If you go
- The nearest international airport to the start of the Chuysky Trakt is in Novosibirsk. Emirates (www.emirates.com) offer codeshare flights with S7 Airlines (www.s7.ru) via Moscow for US$5,300 (Dh19,467) return including taxes. Cheaper flights are available on Flydubai and Air Astana or Aeroflot combination, flying via Astana in Kazakhstan or Moscow. Economy class tickets are available for US$650 (Dh2,400).
- The Double Tree by Hilton in Novosibirsk ( 7 383 2230100,) has double rooms from US$60 (Dh220). You can rent cabins at camp grounds or rooms in guesthouses in the towns for around US$25 (Dh90).
- The transport Minibuses run along the Chuysky Trakt but if you want to stop for sightseeing, hire a taxi from Gorno-Altaisk for about US$100 (Dh360) a day. Take a Russian phrasebook or download a translation app. Tour companies such as Altair-Tour ( 7 383 2125115 ) offer hiking and adventure packages.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'
Rating: 1 out of 4
Running time: 81 minutes
Director: David Blue Garcia
Starring: Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Mark Burnham
