UAE captain Muhammad Waseem celebrates his century in the Cricket World Cup League 2 match against Papua New Guinea at the TU International Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Subas Humagain for The National
UAE captain Muhammad Waseem celebrates his century in the Cricket World Cup League 2 match against Papua New Guinea at the TU International Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Subas Humagain for The National
UAE captain Muhammad Waseem celebrates his century in the Cricket World Cup League 2 match against Papua New Guinea at the TU International Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Subas Humagain for The National
UAE captain Muhammad Waseem celebrates his century in the Cricket World Cup League 2 match against Papua New Guinea at the TU International Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. S

UAE's Muhammad Waseem warms up for epic finale against Nepal with record-breaking blitz


Paul Radley
  • English
  • Arabic

Muhammad Waseem prepared for a momentous final day of Cricket World Cup League 2 by playing arguably the most extraordinary innings in UAE’s one-day international history.

The national team’s captain brought his T20 prowess to bear in the longer of the limited-overs formats for the first time, with a stunning assault against Papua New Guinea in Kathmandu.

Waseem has already made two T20I centuries in his brief career to date, but had only passed 50 twice in 29 innings in the 50-over game before this one.

PNG, who had won their last three encounters with the national side, were the ones to bear the brunt as Waseem finally brought his T20 domination to bear in 50 overs.

The opener blazed 12 sixes in his innings of 119 from 76 balls. At one stage it appeared as if he might be set to break Eoin Morgan's record for most sixes in an ODI innings of 17.

Waseem's innings set his side up for a morale-boosting six-wicket win in their penultimate game in the competition.

He reached three figures off the 61st ball he faced. That was the fastest ODI century by a UAE player, breaking the 69-ball record of Vriitya Aravind – who was batting at the other end when Waseem achieved his milestone.

Waseem's final score was the third highest by a UAE player in the format, with only Khurram Khan (132 not out) and Rameez Shahzad (121 not out) having made more in the past.

Earlier in the day, Hazrat Bilal took four wickets as UAE restricted PNG to 234-7 from their 50 overs. Waseem's blitz at the top of the innings helped the national team reach the target with six wickets, and 68 balls, in hand.

"I had never taken 29 innings [to make a century] before and I was sad about this, but Alhamdulillah I did this today for my team," Waseem said.

"To be honest, I have to play my natural game. I am an opener and if I can get us off to a good start, and we can get 60 or 70 in the first 10 overs, it is good for my team.

"If I am there at the wicket, I will always try to play my natural game at the start of the innings. I just tried my best."

After three and a half years of competition, the last match of League 2 will take place on Thursday. Although UAE’s own fate is already sealed, there remains much riding on the final fixture. The tourists could yet be the ultimate party-poopers.

  • UAE captain Muhammad Waseem celebrates after reaching his century in the Cricket World Cup League 2 match against Papua New Guinea at the TU International Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. All images Subas Humagain for The National
    UAE captain Muhammad Waseem celebrates after reaching his century in the Cricket World Cup League 2 match against Papua New Guinea at the TU International Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. All images Subas Humagain for The National
  • Captain Muhammad Waseem scored a match-winning century against PNG in Nepal on Wednesday
    Captain Muhammad Waseem scored a match-winning century against PNG in Nepal on Wednesday
  • UAE captain Muhammad Waseem hits a six against PNG at the TU International Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu
    UAE captain Muhammad Waseem hits a six against PNG at the TU International Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu
  • Muhammad Waseem, right, guided UAE to victory over Papua New Guinea on Wednesday
    Muhammad Waseem, right, guided UAE to victory over Papua New Guinea on Wednesday
  • Hazrat Bilal of UAE celebrates wicket of Hiri Hiri of PNG
    Hazrat Bilal of UAE celebrates wicket of Hiri Hiri of PNG
  • Hazrat Bilal of the UAE picked up four wickets
    Hazrat Bilal of the UAE picked up four wickets
  • PNG captain Assad Vala scored a fifty
    PNG captain Assad Vala scored a fifty
  • Vriitya Aravind of the UAE holds on to a catch against Papua New Guinea
    Vriitya Aravind of the UAE holds on to a catch against Papua New Guinea
  • Ashwanth Valthapa of the UAE attempts a stumping
    Ashwanth Valthapa of the UAE attempts a stumping

The national team are already guaranteed to play at the World Cup Qualifier Play-off in Namibia, starting later this month. If they beat Nepal on the final day, they will be joining them in Windhoek.

If the home side win, though, they will advance directly to the global Qualifier in Zimbabwe in the summer.

The stakes have sent the home supporters into a frenzy. As many as 20,000 are expected to pack into the Tribhuvan University ground, with potentially thousands more watching on from various vantage points – including being perched in trees – beyond the barbed wire fences.

"We don't care about audience or the crowd," Waseem said.

"We have already played in front of this crowd. We will try to play our best cricket and finish with a win.

"If I can play the same as I did today, if I do that tomorrow it will be good for my team."

THE SPECS

      

 

Engine: 1.5-litre

 

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

 

Power: 110 horsepower 

 

Torque: 147Nm 

 

Price: From Dh59,700 

 

On sale: now  

 
Unresolved crisis

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly president was ousted, Moscow annexed Crimea and then backed a separatist insurgency in the east.

Fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces has killed more than 14,000 people. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal, known as the Minsk agreements, that ended large-scale hostilities but failed to bring a political settlement of the conflict.

The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Kiev of sabotaging the deal, and Ukrainian officials in recent weeks said that implementing it in full would hurt Ukraine.

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Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Defending champions

World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

TOURNAMENT INFO

Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier

Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November

UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi

Teachers' pay - what you need to know

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK 

Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV

UK's plans to cut net migration

Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.

Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.

But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.

Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.

Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.

The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.

Updated: March 16, 2023, 2:53 AM