Genuine fast bowlers are an uncommon commodity in cricket. At the lower tier of international cricket, they are truly rare.
So when a young pace bowler shows up clocking close to 90mph in his first senior professional tournament, you take note.
When Zeeshan Naseer lined up to bowl his first over for Team Abu Dhabi in the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament against Ajman, England's opening batsman Alex Hales did not have any idea what to expect. The first ball cut him in half with a massive in-swinger, the third ball hit him flush on the gloves, the fourth beat his outside edge and the fifth ball was nicked behind to wicketkeeper Phil Salt.
To the naked eye, Naseer looked rapid. In the next over, the speed gun confirmed it. Naseer had been clocked at 143kph (89mph). Naseer beat experienced batsmen like Jimmy Neesham, Gulbadin Naib and Ravi Bopara for pace and movement in a superb debut in T10, finishing with 2-8 from his two overs.
The 24-year-old fast bowler, who hails from Lahore, picked up another two-wicket haul in his next match but went wicketless in his last two games. He had made a big impression by then, though.
His Abu Dhabi teammates had already seen what he can do during training. England batsman Jonny Bairstow had been particularly impressed by Naseer's pace and aggression. Now, the rest of the teams in the T10 tournament – and also those in UAE cricket – got to see it first hand.
"I really enjoyed bowling to Jonny Bairstow in the nets. I managed to bowl well at him and got good feedback from him. Then in the second match [and first], I was clocked at 143kph. I had no idea I could bowl at 90mph," Naseer told The National.
Watching him bowl with pace and accuracy, you need to be reminded that this is his first senior professional tournament. Naseer started playing club cricket in the UAE only two years ago after failing to land any significant playing opportunities in Lahore. He played in Dubai and then in Ajman, before landing a chance to impress in the ILT20 Development Tournament for Gulf Giants.
Having impressed sufficiently, Naseer was picked for Team Abu Dhabi. And while the jump up to senior professional level can be challenging for many, Naseer has found it strangely comforting, as hardly any batsmen know he can bowl fast.
"This is my first major tournament at professional level. What I have found so far is that at domestic level, batsmen know about me. But here [in T10], they do not know about me. So for now, it is easier for me [to surprise batsmen]," he said.
However, it is only a matter of time before batsmen change their tactics against him. Naseer knows he needs to learn as much as he can from his more illustrious teammates about improving and maintaining his pace, fitness and also the art of fast bowling.
"[Pakistan fast bowler and Abu Dhabi teammate] Rumman Raees bhai has been guiding me very well. He is teaching me about line and length, also what I need to improve pace. Especially the exercises that I need to improve my speed.
"Adam Milne has also been very helpful and inspiring. Seeing players bowling genuine pace, I also wish to bowl as fast."
Like most pacers from Pakistan, Naseer hopes to emulate one of the fiercest bowlers of all time – Shoaib Akhtar. But it is not just pace he is after. In the Abu Dhabi T10 so far, Naseer has show the ability to move the ball both ways at pace, which can be lethal on more helpful surfaces.
"I want to bowl like Shoaib Akhtar. Also, I hope to swing it like Mohammad Amir. I have not talked to him [Amir, who is playing for New York Strikes in T10] yet, I don’t even know if he has seen my bowling. I hope to meet him, because my action resembles his a little bit."
Naseer would have surely caught the eye of some in the UAE cricket establishment. He has been playing in UAE only for a couple of years, so still has some time to go before he could be considered for the national team setup. However, the ingredients are all there for what could be an inspiring career.
For now, Naseer is focused on the Abu Dhabi T10, then hopefully the DP World ILT20, and possibly a chance to bowl to the UAE team during training camps. Whatever happens after that, is up to fate.
"Whether I get spotted because of my pace as all down to luck. You never know who likes what. Obviously, making it to the UAE set up is my dream. Whenever they call me, I will be available. Inshallah, I will get to play."
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: the specs
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plus rear-mounted electric motor
Power: 843hp at N/A rpm
Torque: 1470Nm N/A rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.6L/100km
On sale: October to December
Price: From Dh875,000 (estimate)
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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.”
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
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Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
'Avengers: Infinity War'
Dir: The Russo Brothers
Starring: Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Junior, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen
Four stars
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The specs
Engine: 4 liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous electric motors placed at each wheel
Battery: Rimac 120kWh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power: 1877bhp
Torque: 2300Nm
Price: Dh7,500,00
On sale: Now
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
