England all-rounder Sam Curran will join Desert Vipers in the ILT20. Getty Images
England all-rounder Sam Curran will join Desert Vipers in the ILT20. Getty Images
England all-rounder Sam Curran will join Desert Vipers in the ILT20. Getty Images
England all-rounder Sam Curran will join Desert Vipers in the ILT20. Getty Images

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Cricket

ILT20: Sam Curran, Phil Salt and Kieron Pollard all jet in from South Africa for finale

Wholesale changes in the final phase of the season as players depart for PSL and arrive from SA20

Paul Radley
Paul Radley

February 06, 2024

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Desert Vipers have moved to offset the loss of a trio of Pakistan internationals by signing England stars Sam Curran and Phil Salt.

The pair have been enlisted to help the side’s push for a play-off place at the DP World International League T20.

The Vipers return to action on Friday in Dubai. They will face Dubai Capitals, with whom they are vying for a place in the top four.

The past two days have seen a raft of changes in the league, with players departing for international duty as well as other leagues, plus some arriving from the SA20.

Kieron Pollard has join the ranks of league-leading MI Emirates after arriving from South Africa.

Curran was in action until Saturday with MI Cape Town. Phil Salt was on the opposing side, opening the batting for the Pretoria Capitals.

They have been brought in to cover the departure of four leading players. Shaheen Afridi, Azam Khan and Shadab Khan have returned to Pakistan to get ready for the Pakistan Super League.

Wanindu Hasaranga has also returned to Sri Lanka for international duty.

“Both players are proven international performers with exceptional Twenty20 records and they will add an extra dimension to our team,” said Tom Moody, the Vipers coach. “I know Sam extremely well having worked with him for the Oval Invincibles at The Hundred and I know the quality he offers with bat, ball and in the field.

“He loves to be involved in big games at important times and that is the sort of attitude we want from our players.

"Phil has developed into one of the most exciting players in world cricket at the top of the order, as he showed in the Caribbean with England in December, and he is also an excellent wicketkeeper and so provides us with options in that regard.”

Desert Vipers v Gulf Giants - in pictures

  • Shaheen Afridi took 3-22 took for Desert Vipers as they beat Gulf Giants by six wickets in their ILT20 clash at Dubai International Stadium on January 24,2024. All images by Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Shaheen Afridi took 3-22 took for Desert Vipers as they beat Gulf Giants by six wickets in their ILT20 clash at Dubai International Stadium on January 24,2024. All images by Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Shimron Hetmyer scored 11 as Gulf Giants reached 160-6 in their innings.
    Shimron Hetmyer scored 11 as Gulf Giants reached 160-6 in their innings.
  • Vipers bowler Tymal Mills celebrates after taking the wicket of Giants' Chris Lynn.
    Vipers bowler Tymal Mills celebrates after taking the wicket of Giants' Chris Lynn.
  • Jordan Cox scored 32 off 29 balls for Gulf Giants.
    Jordan Cox scored 32 off 29 balls for Gulf Giants.
  • Shadab Khan was wicketless off his four overs for the Vipers that went for 40 runs.
    Shadab Khan was wicketless off his four overs for the Vipers that went for 40 runs.
  • Chris Lynn hits a six for Gulf Giants on his way to 63 off 42 balls.
    Chris Lynn hits a six for Gulf Giants on his way to 63 off 42 balls.
  • Vipers bowler Shaheen Afridi celebrates of taking the wicket of Giants opener Jamie Smith for five.
    Vipers bowler Shaheen Afridi celebrates of taking the wicket of Giants opener Jamie Smith for five.
  • Wanindu Hasaranga scored 42 off 19 balls for Desert Vipers who reached their target with eight balls to spare.
    Wanindu Hasaranga scored 42 off 19 balls for Desert Vipers who reached their target with eight balls to spare.
  • Giants bowler Richard Gleeson celebrates claiming the wicket of Vipers captain and opener Colin Munro for six.
    Giants bowler Richard Gleeson celebrates claiming the wicket of Vipers captain and opener Colin Munro for six.
  • Giants' Aayan Khan after catching out Vipers batter Alex Hales.
    Giants' Aayan Khan after catching out Vipers batter Alex Hales.
  • Vipers opener Alex Hales scored 21 off 20 balls.
    Vipers opener Alex Hales scored 21 off 20 balls.
  • Giants captain James Vince directs the field during the game.
    Giants captain James Vince directs the field during the game.
  • Azam Khan scored an unbeaten 26 off 14 balls for Desert Vipers.
    Azam Khan scored an unbeaten 26 off 14 balls for Desert Vipers.
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Notable salonnières of the Middle East through history

Al Khasan (Okaz, Saudi Arabia)

Tamadir bint Amr Al Harith, known simply as Al Khasan, was a poet from Najd famed for elegies, earning great renown for the eulogy of her brothers Mu’awiyah and Sakhr, both killed in tribal wars. Although not a salonnière, this prestigious 7th century poet fostered a culture of literary criticism and could be found standing in the souq of Okaz and reciting her poetry, publicly pronouncing her views and inviting others to join in the debate on scholarship. She later converted to Islam.

 

Maryana Marrash (Aleppo)

A poet and writer, Marrash helped revive the tradition of the salon and was an active part of the Nadha movement, or Arab Renaissance. Born to an established family in Aleppo in Ottoman Syria in 1848, Marrash was educated at missionary schools in Aleppo and Beirut at a time when many women did not receive an education. After touring Europe, she began to host salons where writers played chess and cards, competed in the art of poetry, and discussed literature and politics. An accomplished singer and canon player, music and dancing were a part of these evenings.

 

Princess Nazil Fadil (Cairo)

Princess Nazil Fadil gathered religious, literary and political elite together at her Cairo palace, although she stopped short of inviting women. The princess, a niece of Khedive Ismail, believed that Egypt’s situation could only be solved through education and she donated her own property to help fund the first modern Egyptian University in Cairo.

 

Mayy Ziyadah (Cairo)

Ziyadah was the first to entertain both men and women at her Cairo salon, founded in 1913. The writer, poet, public speaker and critic, her writing explored language, religious identity, language, nationalism and hierarchy. Born in Nazareth, Palestine, to a Lebanese father and Palestinian mother, her salon was open to different social classes and earned comparisons with souq of where Al Khansa herself once recited.

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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Updated: February 06, 2024, 6:30 PM
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