• AB de Villiers (Lahore Qalandars) You may have heard of him. The South African great will be making his first appearance in the Pakistan Super League, which is now into its fourth season. He will be tasked with rousing a chronically under-performing franchise, who have finished last in every PSL to date. Getty Images
    AB de Villiers (Lahore Qalandars) You may have heard of him. The South African great will be making his first appearance in the Pakistan Super League, which is now into its fourth season. He will be tasked with rousing a chronically under-performing franchise, who have finished last in every PSL to date. Getty Images
  • Shadab Khan (Islamabad United) Ranked No 3 in the world ratings for T20 bowlers, the leg-spinner was an integral part of Islamabad’s title win last year. He still only 20, but has long been a mainstay both at international and franchise level. He is held in such high regard that he has been elevated to the role of Islamabad vice-captain, as understudy to veteran quick bowler Mohammed Sami. Getty Images
    Shadab Khan (Islamabad United) Ranked No 3 in the world ratings for T20 bowlers, the leg-spinner was an integral part of Islamabad’s title win last year. He still only 20, but has long been a mainstay both at international and franchise level. He is held in such high regard that he has been elevated to the role of Islamabad vice-captain, as understudy to veteran quick bowler Mohammed Sami. Getty Images
  • Colin Munro (Karachi Kings) The free-hitting left-handed opener will be well versed with the conditions he is set to face here, having played in both the Afghanistan Premier League and New Zealand’s bilateral series against Pakistan at the end of 2018. He returns to the Emirates in good touch, too, with runs in New Zealand’s series against India. Getty Images
    Colin Munro (Karachi Kings) The free-hitting left-handed opener will be well versed with the conditions he is set to face here, having played in both the Afghanistan Premier League and New Zealand’s bilateral series against Pakistan at the end of 2018. He returns to the Emirates in good touch, too, with runs in New Zealand’s series against India. Getty Images
  • Dawid Malan (Peshawar Zalmi) One of the overseas players who underpinned Peshawar’s title win two years ago, amid joyous scenes as the final was played back in Pakistan for the first time. Since then, Malan has been an Ashes star for England, then fallen out of favour again. His return to the PSL is likely to be a popular one. Getty Images
    Dawid Malan (Peshawar Zalmi) One of the overseas players who underpinned Peshawar’s title win two years ago, amid joyous scenes as the final was played back in Pakistan for the first time. Since then, Malan has been an Ashes star for England, then fallen out of favour again. His return to the PSL is likely to be a popular one. Getty Images
  • Fawad Ahmed (Quetta Gladiators) Leg-spinners are a highly-valued commodity in T20 cricket. Fawad might not be the most high-profile of the ilk, but he has had success in the short-format, most notably in the Caribbean Premier League. He is an intriguing new addition to the PSL, having lived in Pakistan until his late 20s, before finding fame, fortune, and citizenship, in Australia. Getty Images
    Fawad Ahmed (Quetta Gladiators) Leg-spinners are a highly-valued commodity in T20 cricket. Fawad might not be the most high-profile of the ilk, but he has had success in the short-format, most notably in the Caribbean Premier League. He is an intriguing new addition to the PSL, having lived in Pakistan until his late 20s, before finding fame, fortune, and citizenship, in Australia. Getty Images
  • Shahid Afridi (Multan Sultans) Whisper it quietly, but Afridi was beginning to show signs of ageing last time he was here, when he coasted through the T10 League in Sharjah. He did, however, play a full programme of Bangladesh Premier League fixtures, to decent effect. And nobody will be more popular with UAE crowds than Afridi, who turns 39 on March 1. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Shahid Afridi (Multan Sultans) Whisper it quietly, but Afridi was beginning to show signs of ageing last time he was here, when he coasted through the T10 League in Sharjah. He did, however, play a full programme of Bangladesh Premier League fixtures, to decent effect. And nobody will be more popular with UAE crowds than Afridi, who turns 39 on March 1. Chris Whiteoak / The National

AB de Villiers, Shahid Afridi and the players to watch at PSL 2019 - in pictures


Paul Radley
  • English
  • Arabic

As the Pakistan Super League enters its fourth edition, Paul Radley selects a player to watch from each of the six franchises in the photo gallery above.

To move on to the next image, click on the arrows or thumbnail, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

Profile box

Founders: Michele Ferrario, Nino Ulsamer and Freddy Lim
Started: established in 2016 and launched in July 2017
Based: Singapore, with offices in the UAE, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand
Sector: FinTech, wealth management
Initial investment: $500,000 in seed round 1 in 2016; $2.2m in seed round 2 in 2017; $5m in series A round in 2018; $12m in series B round in 2019; $16m in series C round in 2020 and $25m in series D round in 2021
Current staff: more than 160 employees
Stage: series D 
Investors: EightRoads Ventures, Square Peg Capital, Sequoia Capital India

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Insomniac%20Games%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%20Sony%20Interactive%20Entertainment%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPlayStation%205%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What are the influencer academy modules?
  1. Mastery of audio-visual content creation. 
  2. Cinematography, shots and movement.
  3. All aspects of post-production.
  4. Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
  5. Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
  6. Tourism industry knowledge.
  7. Professional ethics.
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Like a Fading Shadow

Antonio Muñoz Molina

Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez

Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)

Results

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m; Winner: Gurm, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)

5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Al Nafece, Al Muatasm Al Balushi, Mohammed Ramadan

6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Adrie de Vries, Ibrahim Aseel

6.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Ottoman, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi

7pm: Liwa Oasis – Group 2 (PA) 300,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Hakeemat Muscat, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ganbaru, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

ABU DHABI ORDER OF PLAY

Starting at 10am:

Daria Kasatkina v Qiang Wang

Veronika Kudermetova v Annet Kontaveit (10)

Maria Sakkari (9) v Anastasia Potapova

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Ons Jabeur (15)

Donna Vekic (16) v Bernarda Pera 

Ekaterina Alexandrova v Zarina Diyas

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.

'Gold'

Director:Anthony Hayes

Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes

Rating:3/5

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%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUFC%20112%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Invincible%20(April%2010%2C%202010)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUFC%20Fight%20Night%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENogueira%20v%20Nelson%20(April%2011%2C%202014)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUFC%20242%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Khabib%20v%20Poirier%20(September%207%2C%202019)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFight%20Island%201%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUFC%20251%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Usman%20v%20Masvidal%20(July%2012%2C%202020)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUFC%20on%20ESPN%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Kattar%20v%20Ige%20(July%2016%2C%202020)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUFC%20Fight%20Night%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFigueiredo%20v%20Benavidez%202%20(July%2019%2C%202020)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EUFC%20on%20ESPN%3A%20Whittaker%20v%20Till%20(July%2026%2C%202020)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFight%20Island%202%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUFC%20253%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAdesanya%20v%20Costa%20(September%2027%2C%202020)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUFC%20on%20ESPN%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Holm%20v%20Aldana%20(October%204%2C%202020)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUFC%20Fight%20Night%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Moraes%20v%20Sandhagen%20(October%2011%2C%202020)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUFC%20Fight%20Night%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ortega%20v%20Korean%20Zombie%20(October%2018%2C%202020)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUFC%20254%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKhabib%20v%20Gaethje%20(October%2024%2C%202020)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFight%20Island%203%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EUFC%20on%20ABC%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Holloway%20v%20Kattar%20(January%2016%2C%202021)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUFC%20on%20ESPN%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chiesa%20v%20Magny%20(January%2020%2C%202021)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUFC%20257%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPoirier%20v%20McGregor%202%20(January%2024%2C%202021)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EUFC%20267%3A%20Blachowicz%20v%20Teixeira%20(October%2030%2C%202021)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EUFC%20280%3A%20Oliveira%20v%20Makhachev%20(October%2022%2C%202022)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Winners

Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)

Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)

Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)

Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)

Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)

Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)

Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)

Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)