The year 2021 is the one where 'catching up' will be the mantra. Most business entities will be looking to make up for lost time as the world begins to open up after the vacuum of 2020.
Cricket is no different and India have a lot of heavy lifting to do as they are the biggest revenue generators in world cricket. Many cricket economies are tied to the revenue streams from the subcontinent and a robust Indian cricket calendar is essential for the viability of the sport in the immediate future.
Which is why India's cricket schedule is brimming with fixtures in 2021. We have nine Test matches scheduled against England alone, plus the IPL and the T20 World Cup.
Below is the complete fixture list for India in 2021. Note that schedule subject to change.
December 2020 - January 2021
India tour of Australia
December 17, First Test (D/N), Adelaide
December 26, Second Test, Melbourne
January 7, Third Test, Sydney
January 15, Fourth Test, Brisbane
February-March
England tour of India
February 5: First Test, Chennai
February 13: Second Test, Chennai
February 24: Third Test (day/night), Ahmedabad
March 4: Fourth Test, Ahmedabad
March 12: First T20, Ahmedabad
March 14: Second T20, Ahmedabad
March 16: Third T20, Ahmedabad
March 18: Fourth T20, Ahmedabad
March 20: Fifth T20, Ahmedabad
March 23: First ODI, Pune
March 26: Second ODI, Pune
March 28: Third ODI, Pune
April-May
Indian Premier League (UAE back-up venue)
June
Asia Cup in Sri Lanka
August-September
India tour of England
August 4, First Test, Nottingham
August 12, Second Test, Lord's
August 25, Third Test, Leeds
September 2, Fourth Test, The Oval, London
September 10, Fifth Test, Manchester
September-October
South Africa tour of India
3 ODIs and 5 T20s
October-November
T20 World Cup in India
November-December
New Zealand tour of India
2 Tests and 3 T20s
December-January
India tour of South Africa
3 Tests and 3 T20s
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
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How The Debt Panel's advice helped readers in 2019
December 11: 'My husband died, so what happens to the Dh240,000 he owes in the UAE?'
JL, a housewife from India, wrote to us about her husband, who died earlier this month. He left behind an outstanding loan of Dh240,000 and she was hoping to pay it off with an insurance policy he had taken out. She also wanted to recover some of her husband’s end-of-service liabilities to help support her and her son.
“I have no words to thank you for helping me out,” she wrote to The Debt Panel after receiving the panellists' comments. “The advice has given me an idea of the present status of the loan and how to take it up further. I will draft a letter and send it to the email ID on the bank’s website along with the death certificate. I hope and pray to find a way out of this.”
November 26: ‘I owe Dh100,000 because my employer has not paid me for a year’
SL, a financial services employee from India, left the UAE in June after quitting his job because his employer had not paid him since November 2018. He owes Dh103,800 on four debts and was told by the panellists he may be able to use the insolvency law to solve his issue.
SL thanked the panellists for their efforts. "Indeed, I have some clarity on the consequence of the case and the next steps to take regarding my situation," he says. "Hopefully, I will be able to provide a positive testimony soon."
October 15: 'I lost my job and left the UAE owing Dh71,000. Can I return?'
MS, an energy sector employee from South Africa, left the UAE in August after losing his Dh12,000 job. He was struggling to meet the repayments while securing a new position in the UAE and feared he would be detained if he returned. He has now secured a new job and will return to the Emirates this month.
“The insolvency law is indeed a relief to hear,” he says. "I will not apply for insolvency at this stage. I have been able to pay something towards my loan and credit card. As it stands, I only have a one-month deficit, which I will be able to recover by the end of December."
The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders
Stuart Kells, Counterpoint Press
How it works
1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground
2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water
3) One application is said to last five years
4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
