The UAE will be guaranteed T20 international cricket against elite opposition as part of a new agreement with the Afghanistan Cricket Board.
The national team will face Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series each year for the next five years.
It is part of a deal formalising the Emirates as Afghanistan's nominal home base.
Since they started their remarkable rise from refugees displaced to Pakistan to the top of the international game, the Afghans have played the vast majority of their home fixtures in the UAE.
Initially, they were granted free use of Sharjah Cricket Stadium. After a brief spell of playing matches in India, they have recently hosted matches in Abu Dhabi.
Now they have entered into a "five-year mutual cooperation agreement" with the Emirates Cricket Board.
It means they will be based in the Emirates for matches and training, and play an annual series against the UAE.
The ECB will also provide "logistic support to the Afghanistan board, including visa assistance and office space," according to a press release.
“Both the Emirates and Afghanistan Cricket Boards enjoy long, cordial relations, and we are happy to support the ACB in ensuring that they have a home for their cricket," Mubashshir Usmani, the ECB's general secretary, was quoted as saying.
"We are also thankful to Afghanistan Cricket Board for agreeing to play T20 internationals against UAE Team each year.
"This will provide our UAE team with the invaluable exposure and help in their development."
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
