Gulbadin Naib, the Afghanistan captain, is confident his side can repeat their feat from the Asia Cup and inflict another defeat on beleaguered Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankans arrived at this World Cup in a state of disarray. There has been a widespread corruption purge off the field, while on it, the team have endured woeful results on it in the one-day international formats for much of the recent past.
Wholesale changes were made to the squad ahead of this tournament, with a new captain – Dimuth Karunaratne – installed, having not played ODI cricket at all since the last World Cup.
Given the chaos, their shambolic opening felt almost inevitable. They were fired out for just 136 by New Zealand, as they lost their opening match by 10 wickets in Cardiff.
Afghanistan fell short of batting out their overs in their first fixture, too, as they lost to Australia. But Gulbadin is optimistic of their chances when they meet a Sri Lanka side they beat by 91 runs in Abu Dhabi in September, when they meet again in Bristol on Tuesday.
“I saw the Sri Lankans play on TV, and they have lost few games in the past two years and they're struggling in one-day matches,” Gulbadin said.
“We have an opportunity to do well against them. I hope if we can play 50 overs when we are batting, definitely we can beat them. They also a good team, and we cannot take it easy against them.
“We can try to score big. If we play 50 overs we can make it difficult for them.”
Despite the fact Afghanistan are relatively new arrivals on cricket’s top stage, with this being just their second World Cup, Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka’s senior players, believes they have more big-match experience than his side.
____________________________________
The Cricket Pod: World Cup 2019 needs moments like Stokes catch to capture imagination
____________________________________
Malinga cites the fact that the likes of Rashid Khan and Mohammed Nabi are regulars in franchise tournaments like the Indian Premier League as a reason for why the Afghans are capable of coping with pressure.
“They have good experience players because most of the players play in franchise cricket,” Malinga said. “They have that experience. They know how to accelerate, and they have all that confidence.
“The very important thing is handling the pressure. I think they have more experience, especially handling pressure. That's the big challenge for us.”
The fast bowler also believes his batting colleagues must show more resilience than they showed against New Zealand if they are to prosper.
“Patience is very important,” Malinga said. “We know these conditions. Whoever is the batsman, he has to finish the game if he is set.
“Whoever is there, he has to finish the game.”
Know before you go
Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
Timeline
1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line
1962
250 GTO is unveiled
1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company
1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens
1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made
1987
F40 launched
1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent
2002
The Enzo model is announced
2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi
2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled
2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives
2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company
2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street
2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023 More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened. He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia. Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”. Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
