New Zealand's Kane Williamson en route to his double century against Pakistan in the first Test in Karachi on Thursday, December 29, 2022. AFP
New Zealand's Kane Williamson en route to his double century against Pakistan in the first Test in Karachi on Thursday, December 29, 2022. AFP
New Zealand's Kane Williamson en route to his double century against Pakistan in the first Test in Karachi on Thursday, December 29, 2022. AFP
New Zealand's Kane Williamson en route to his double century against Pakistan in the first Test in Karachi on Thursday, December 29, 2022. AFP

Pakistan face uphill battle in Karachi Test against New Zealand


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Pakistan will have to bat out the final day of the opening Test against New Zealand in Karachi if they are to avoid a fourth straight home defeat in red-ball cricket.

Kane Williamson's double century set the stage for the Kiwis to push for victory on a docile pitch at the National Stadium. The visitors posted a gargantuan 612-9 declared in their first innings for a 174-run lead over Pakistan's score of 438.

The home side finished the fourth day on a precarious 77-2, with Imam-ul-Haq on 45 and nightwatchman Nauman Ali on four.

Babar Azam is already under pressure after overseeing a first ever Test series whitewash at home against England in the preceding series and defeat here will amplify the scrutiny with a new selection committee and board chairman in place.

New Zealand's Ish Sodhi, centre, celebrates the wicket of Pakistan's Shan Masood. AP
New Zealand's Ish Sodhi, centre, celebrates the wicket of Pakistan's Shan Masood. AP

Opener Abdullah Shafique was the first wicket to fall as he tried to lift off-spinner Michael Bracewell over the infield and was caught at mid-on for 17.

Then Shan Masood was adjudged leg before off Ish Sodhi for 10 before Haq and Nauman saw off the day.

Earlier, the Black Caps declared just after Williamson lifted spinner Abrar Ahmed over extra cover for his 21st boundary and then raised his fifth double hundred with a single.

Abrar, who took 17 wickets in two Test matches against England earlier this month, finished with 5-205 but not before Williamson and Sodhi had extended the lead with a 159-run seventh-wicket stand on a slow wicket.

Spinners Abrar and Nauman (3-185) slogged collectively for nearly 131 overs and the bowlers' task was made tougher by the overall sloppiness of the side.

The hosts dropped three catches, missed a couple of stumpings and twice opted against reviews which would have resulted in wickets.

Wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed, making a test comeback after four years, was one of the main culprits as he fumbled stumping opportunities when Williamson was on 15 and 21. The former Kiwi captain made Pakistan pay for the mistakes.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
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Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

MATCH INFO

Sheffield United 0 Wolves 2 (Jimenez 3', Saiss 6)

Man of the Match Romain Saiss (Wolves)

THE SPECS

Engine: 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 626bhp

Torque: 900Nm

Price: Dh1,050,000

On sale: now

MATCH INFO

First Test at Barbados
West Indies won by 381 runs

Second Test at Antigua
West Indies won by 10 wickets

Third Test at St Lucia
February 9-13

 

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

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The Vines - In Miracle Land
Two stars

How has net migration to UK changed?

The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.

It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.

The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.

The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.

Biog

Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara

He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada

Father of two sons, grandfather of six

Plays golf once a week

Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family

Walks for an hour every morning

Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India

2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business

 

STAY%2C%20DAUGHTER
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Profile

Company: Justmop.com

Date started: December 2015

Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan

Sector: Technology and home services

Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai

Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month

Funding:  The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups. 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Honeymoonish
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Updated: December 29, 2022, 1:16 PM