The fact MI Emirates hit the ground running in their first outing in the DP World International League T20 was no surprise.
After all, they are bringing with them all the expertise of the Indian Premier League’s most successful franchise.
They are owned by Reliance Industries, who are more famously the proprietors of Mumbai Indians.
Their captain, Kieron Pollard, is one of the main factors behind that franchise’s greatness.
They have brought with them to the UAE the nous of fellow short form masters like Nicholas Pooran, Dwayne Bravo, Imran Tahir, and Trent Boult.
So the sight of them steamrollering Sharjah Warriors on Abu Dhabi’s opening night of ILT20 action, to the tune of a 49-run win, was no shock.
Less predictable to fans of the game from beyond cricket’s mainstream, though, might have been the identity of the player on whom their success was founded.
Maybe not everybody already knew about Muhammad Waseem before, given that he earns in living in UAE cricket.
But he has done his best to be noticed in the few opportunities he has had on bigger stages. He has two T20I centuries to his name, two winners’ medals in the Abu Dhabi T10, and one in the Pakistan Super League.
His blitz on ILT20 debut was more or less standard practice. The UAE opener laced 71 in 39 balls to set MI Emirates on the path to victory.
He hit five sixes. Some were so savage, they left his celebrated colleagues Pooran and Pollard awed.
His effort was the platform for MI’s total of 204 for five, which was a mammoth score given the vast dimensions of Zayed Cricket Stadium’s playing area.
Sharjah never got anywhere near in reply, with Bravo and Tahir bringing their experience to bear. They added three and two respectively to their enviable career tallies.
And yet, even with the ball, the pick of the MI Emirates players was one of the mandated two home-based players.
Zahoor Khan was immaculate as he went for just 15 from his four overs, as the competition's powerhouse side closed out a comfortable win.
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
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Two-step truce
The UN-brokered ceasefire deal for Hodeidah will be implemented in two stages, with the first to be completed before the New Year begins, according to the Arab Coalition supporting the Yemeni government.
By midnight on December 31, the Houthi rebels will have to withdraw from the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Al Saqef, coalition officials told The National.
The second stage will be the complete withdrawal of all pro-government forces and rebels from Hodeidah city, to be completed by midnight on January 7.
The process is to be overseen by a Redeployment Co-ordination Committee (RCC) comprising UN monitors and representatives of the government and the rebels.
The agreement also calls the deployment of UN-supervised neutral forces in the city and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure distribution of aid across the country.
Company%20profile
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
