Muhammad Waseem retained as UAE captain but CP Rizwan keeps place in squad for Nepal tour

Muhammad Waseem will retain the captaincy of the UAE side for the Cricket World Cup League 2 finale in Kathmandu.

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The national team have four matches left in the competition, two each against hosts Nepal and Papua New Guinea.

They will fly to Nepal on the back of a poor run of form which saw them take just two wins from six matches over the past two weeks.

CP Rizwan was removed from the captaincy for the final fixture of that series of matches in Dubai, with opener Waseem taking over the reins.

The dismal run of results means UAE cannot now qualify directly for the global Qualifier in Zimbabwe later this year, which has on offer the final two places for the World Cup in India.

Instead UAE will play at the last-chance Qualifier Play-off in Namibia, starting at the end of this month. They will likely also be playing to retain one-day international status – and thus substantial ICC funding – in Windhoek.

Only the top five sides in League 2 are assured of ODI status. The national team are currently sixth in the points table.

“We have another important tri-series in Nepal which will be a formidable challenge,” Robin Singh, the UAE coach, was quoted as saying. “Our aim will be to finish the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 stage on a high.

“The decision to name Muhammad Waseem captain for the tri-series is a strategic one. Waseem has been one of our premier performers and has gained great confidence after his sensational run in the recently concluded DP World ILT20.

“We feel that he has a lot to offer to the side and can make a difference to our approach as a team.

There are three changes to the squad for the series in Kathmandu. Alishan Sharafu, Sabir Ali and Rahul Bhatia have all been dropped. Zawar Farid, the all-rounder, has been recalled. Ashwanth Valthapa is set for another trip to Nepal, having been a non-playing reserve when UAE lost a three-match bilateral series there in November.

Aryansh Sharma, the 18-year-old wicketkeeper who was a key part of the UAE’s Under 19 side who just missed out on qualification for the World Cup last week, has earned a maiden call up to the senior side. Rizwan has retained his place in the squad.

“On behalf of the Emirates Cricket Board and the team management, I want to thank CP Rizwan for his services for the team as a captain and leader,” Singh said.

“He remains an integral part of the squad and has a big contribution to make to UAE cricket. I look forward to his inputs and performances in Nepal.”

UAE’s first match at Tribhuvan University will be against PNG on Friday.

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.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

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.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

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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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

School uniforms report

UAE parents angry at rising cost of 'poor quality' school uniforms

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Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species

Camelpox

Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.

Falconpox

Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.

Houbarapox

Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.

Muhammad Waseem retained as UAE captain but CP Rizwan keeps place in squad for Nepal tour

Three changes to side for crucial Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series in Kathmandu

UAE%20SQUAD

While you're here

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

School uniforms report

COMPANY%20PROFILE%3A

Specs

Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species

UAE%20SQUAD