Asif Khan says UAE need to avoid basic mistakes if they are to bounce back in their crucial remaining games after defeat to United States at the Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off in Namibia on Thursday.
The in-form batter hit his second century in last three one-day internationals for the national team, but they were ultimately soundly beaten by five wickets.
United States have been regular tormentors of the UAE. Since they first met in ODI cricket back in 2019, the national team have won just one of six matches against them.
This time, USA's hero was someone new. Saiteja Mukkamalla was only playing because of injury to experienced opener Steven Taylor. A day earlier, he had made just one in a fractious loss against their North American rivals Canada.
The youngster navigated his side through a fine run chase against UAE, though, scoring 120 not out as they chased 281 with an over to spare.
Despite Mukkamalla’s excellence, UAE were largely culpable for their own demise. Their fielding was tatty at best, and three of their batters were run out.
Asif’s 81-ball century felt relatively pedestrian given his maiden ODI ton, in Nepal earlier this month, took him a mere 41.
He was involved in the run out which cost Rohan Mustafa his wicket to make the score 205-5 after 39 overs, and he felt the dismissal was pivotal.
“I’ve played a lot of domestic cricket in Pakistan and I am used to these conditions,” Asif said, explaining his own fine form.
“Usually in domestic cricket I open, but with four or five senior players that is why I play there [at No6] for the national team.
“After Ronnie bhai’s [Mustafa’s] run out at a crucial time today I think we finished 30 runs short. Ronnie and my partnership was going well, but unfortunately he was run out and we fell short.”
The six-team competition in Windhoek has much at stake for the UAE. The top two sides will advance to the final stage of qualifying for the World Cup in India later this year - the global Qualifier in Zimbabwe in June and July.
The national team are also seeking to safeguard their status as an ODI nation. To do so, they need to finish in the top two of a group of four teams that also includes Canada, Papua New Guinea and Jersey.
They beat PNG in their opening match. They face Canada – who have won both their matches so far – on Saturday, before facing Namibia a day later.
Their final match is against Jersey, who have suffered two defeats in the competition so far.
Asif, who missed much of the USA innings with a knee injury which he said is only minor, is confident UAE can bounce back, but says they need to tighten up their fielding if they are to do so.
“We worked very hard last night on our fielding, but the weather is hard here and maybe that had an effect,” Asif said.
“We have Canada and Namibia next, and every game is important from here on.”
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
The Farewell
Director: Lulu Wang
Stars: Awkwafina, Zhao Shuzhen, Diana Lin, Tzi Ma
Four stars
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
MATCH INFO
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
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
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
