• England bowler James Anderson celebrates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Muhammad Rizwan on Day 3 of the first Test in Rawalpindi on Saturday, December 3, 2022. AP
    England bowler James Anderson celebrates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Muhammad Rizwan on Day 3 of the first Test in Rawalpindi on Saturday, December 3, 2022. AP
  • Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan plays a shot on his way to a score of 29. Pakistan ended Day 3 on 499-7, 158 runs behind England's first innings total. AFP
    Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan plays a shot on his way to a score of 29. Pakistan ended Day 3 on 499-7, 158 runs behind England's first innings total. AFP
  • England players celebrate after spinner Jack Leach caught out Babar Azam off the bowling of Will Jacks. Getty
    England players celebrate after spinner Jack Leach caught out Babar Azam off the bowling of Will Jacks. Getty
  • Pakistan batter captain Babar Azam after reaching his century. Reuters
    Pakistan batter captain Babar Azam after reaching his century. Reuters
  • Pakistan captain Babar Azam plays a shot on his way to scoring 136. AFP
    Pakistan captain Babar Azam plays a shot on his way to scoring 136. AFP
  • Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq celebrates after reaching his century. AFP
    Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq celebrates after reaching his century. AFP
  • England's Jack Leach celebrates with captain Ben Stokes after taking the wicket of Pakistan batter Imam-ul-Haq for 121. AFP
    England's Jack Leach celebrates with captain Ben Stokes after taking the wicket of Pakistan batter Imam-ul-Haq for 121. AFP
  • England's Will Jacks, left, celebrates with Ben Stokes after taking the wicket of Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique. AP
    England's Will Jacks, left, celebrates with Ben Stokes after taking the wicket of Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique. AP
  • Pakistan's Abdullah Shafique celebrates reaching his century. AP
    Pakistan's Abdullah Shafique celebrates reaching his century. AP
  • Pakistan's Abdullah Shafique plays a shot on his way to 114 off 203 balls. Reuters
    Pakistan's Abdullah Shafique plays a shot on his way to 114 off 203 balls. Reuters

Babar Azam century powers Pakistan's reply in Rawalpindi Test against England


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Pakistan captain Babar Azam became the seventh batsman to smash a century in the high-scoring opening Test against England in Rawalpindi on Saturday.

After four English batsmen hammered hundreds on Friday, three home team batters helped themselves to centuries to power Pakistan to 499-7 on Day 3.

Agha Salman was batting on 10 with Zahid Mahmood on one at the other end when bad light stopped play, with Pakistan still 158 behind England's first innings total of 657.

England batsman Joe Root told Sky Sports afterwards: "A brilliant day. That last session, all the work we put in came to fruition.

"It was attritional. We had to be creative throughout the day and we got our rewards at the end."

On a see-saw day, Pakistan were lifted by centuries from skipper Babar (136), and openers Imam-ul-Haq (121) and Abdullah Shafique (114).

But England took three wickets in the first session, none in the second and three again before the close to put themselves in a better position.

Spinners Will Jacks (3-132) and Jack Leach (2-160) shared the early spoils, while the pace duo of James Anderson and Ollie Robinson took a wicket each.

Jacks believes that Babar's wicket gave England an edge. "That wicket was almost the game-changing moment," he said.

"It was a great day for us – seven wickets in the day – and as the match goes on, the pitch will get more turn."

Babar used his feet well against the spinners and raised his half century off 68 balls when he lifted Leach over wide mid-on for a six after lunch.

He reached his hundred off 126 balls when he thumped a backfoot cover-driven boundary.

“We still have six sessions and if they get a lead then pressure will be on us,” Imam said. “We have faced such situations before … the ball has started keeping slightly low and the pitch will definitely change on the last two days.”

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An exchange traded fund is a type of investment fund that can be traded quickly and easily, just like stocks and shares. They come with no upfront costs aside from your brokerage's dealing charges and annual fees, which are far lower than on traditional mutual investment funds. Charges are as low as 0.03 per cent on one of the very cheapest (and most popular), Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, with the maximum around 0.75 per cent.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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Formula 1 race: 5:10pm
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Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.

Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation. 

Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

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Updated: December 03, 2022, 1:40 PM