The new year is set for a hectic start with a number of international series and T20 leagues jostling for breathing space.
Pakistan’s tour of Australia, India’s tour of South Africa, West Indies tour of Australia, and England’s tour of India will be just a few of the big international matches to start the year.
Simultaneously, T20 leagues will be running alongside, as the window for non-IPL tournaments is limited.
The International League T20 starts in the UAE on January 19 and a few weeks later, the Pakistan Super League will kick off in February. The Big Bash League in Australia will end in between – January 24.
With so many avenues available, cricketers now pick and choose when and where to play. Many are opting out of central contracts to get the best deals possible at international and franchise tournaments.
With cricket fixtures piling on top of each other, the challenge is to attract the top talent. And the best way to do that is through financial incentives.
The Pakistan Super League is not as cash rich as its Indian counterpart – well, no tournament is – but it is trying to get the best players possible.
Below is the list of the top earners at the 2024 edition of the PSL. It must be noted that the PSL follows a draft system, where the exact salary of player is not known since they are picked according to slabs, which can vary according to the star value of the cricketer.
The Platinum category is the top tier. Players there can earn anything between $130,000 and $170,000.
Highest-paid crickets of PSL 2024
Shaheen Afridi (Lahore Qalandars): up to $170,000*
Mohammad Rizwan (Multan Sultans): $170,000
Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi): $170,000
Shadab Khan (Islamabad United): $170,000
Rovman Powell (Peshawar Zalmi): $170,000
Naseem Shah (Islamabad United): $170,000
Rilee Rossouw (Quetta Gladiators): $170,000
Fakhar Zaman (Lahore Qalandars): $170,000
Iftikhar Ahmed (Multan Sultans): $170,000
Kieron Pollard (Karachi Kings): $170,000
Rassie van der Dussen (Lahore Qalandars): $170,000
Jordan Cox (Islamabad United): $170,000
David Willey (Multan Sultans): $170,000
Daniel Sams (Karachi Kings): $170,000
Mohammad Nawaz (Karachi Kings): $170,000
Sherfane Rutherford (Quetta Gladiators): $170,000
Mohammad Amir (Quetta Gladiators): $170,000
Noor Ahmad (Peshawar Zalmi): $170,000
Schedule
The ninth season of PSL is scheduled to take place from around the second week of February.
There is a lot of uncertainty around cricket administration in Pakistan, as it is being run by an interim administration. PCB chief Zaka Ashraf has been told that he can only run the day-to-day affairs of the board and major contracts and decisions need to be ratified by higher authorities. A broadcast deal is still not in place for PSL 2024. Also, general elections will be held in Pakistan in February, hence the lack of clarity.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8
Power: 503hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 685Nm at 2,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Price: from Dh850,000
On sale: now
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cargoz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Premlal%20Pullisserry%20and%20Lijo%20Antony%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
UAE SQUAD
Omar Abdulrahman (Al Hilal), Ali Khaseif, Ali Mabkhout, Salem Rashed, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Zayed Al Ameri, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Khalid Essa, Ahmed Barman, Ryan Yaslam, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmin (Al Wasl), Adel Al Hosani, Ali Hassan Saleh, Majed Suroor (Sharjah), Ahmed Khalil, Walid Abbas, Majed Hassan, Ismail Al Hammadi (Shabab Al Ahli), Hassan Al Muharrami, Fahad Al Dhahani (Bani Yas), Mohammed Al Shaker (Ajman)
What is 'Soft Power'?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
Roger Federer's record at Wimbledon
Roger Federer's record at Wimbledon
1999 - 1st round
2000 - 1st round
2001 - Quarter-finalist
2002 - 1st round
2003 - Winner
2004 - Winner
2005 - Winner
2006 - Winner
2007 - Winner
2008 - Finalist
2009 - Winner
2010 - Quarter-finalist
2011 - Quarter-finalist
2012 - Winner
2013 - 2nd round
2014 - Finalist
2015 - Finalist
2016 - Semi-finalist
The biog
Prefers vegetables and fish to meat and would choose salad over pizza
Walks daily as part of regular exercise routine
France is her favourite country to visit
Has written books and manuals on women’s education, first aid and health for the family
Family: Husband, three sons and a daughter
Fathiya Nadhari's instructions to her children was to give back to the country
The children worked as young volunteers in social, education and health campaigns
Her motto is to never stop working for the country
Semi-final fixtures
Portugal v Chile, 7pm, today
Germany v Mexico, 7pm, tomorrow
