Khaleel Ahmed had a telling introduction to international cricket for India as he extinguished hopes of a fairytale for Hong Kong in the Asia Cup in Dubai.
The little-known left-arm fast bowler took two timely wickets, including that of the outstanding Nizakat Khan, to end the resistance of a side that had been widely written-off after their opening day thrashing by Pakistan.
Hong Kong’s very presence at the Asia Cup had been lampooned by many in cricket’s mainstream on the continent, after their eight-wicket humbling on Sunday.
But the side who had had to qualify to get here, from a six-team tournament in which they were third-highest ranked, shone on the biggest stage.
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Read more:
Asia Cup: Pakistan hand over home-team status to India when rivals clash in Dubai
Explainer: India v Pakistan – all you need to know about the Asia Cup clash
India v Pakistan: Classic moments from matches in UAE
India v Pakistan in UAE: By the numbers
India's Asia Cup talking points: Kohli's absence may be good, may be bad
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Until Nizakat went for 92, one of the most unlikely upsets in the history of one-day international cricket had seemed to be becoming a stronger and stronger possibility.
He put on 174 for Hong Kong’s first wicket with his captain, Anshuman Rath, a 20-year-old opener who has foregone an economics degree to devote himself to cricket.
Once Rath and Nizakat had gone in consecutive overs, though, the life was strangled from Hong Kong’s pursuit of 286 to win. India ended up as 26-run winners.
After the travails they faced on their tour of the UK that preceded the Asia Cup, many of India’s players must have been happy for a change of scenery and format.
None more so than Shikhar Dhawan. The decision to promote the left-handed opener to vice-captain for this tournament was widely queried, given his abject form against England’s bowlers.
He looked like a changed man on his first international appearance in the Emirates. His century was a triumph not just of fine shot-making, but also fitness.
The temperature did not dip below 40 degrees for the 40 overs he was out in the middle. After he had reached three figures, he seemed to be swiping the ball in the same way a star player might once they had reached a respectable score in a charity match. Aim for the ropes, sure. But if it chipped up for a catch, then so be it.
With such a merciless schedule, him being out there for any longer than it took him to make the 127 that he did might have been detrimental. Pakistan are, of course, up next, a day later.
As it was, he had time for a rest in the air-conditioned comfort of Dubai International Stadium’s cavernous dressing rooms, before taking his place in the field for Hong Kong’s reply.
The very first ball of which nearly found him, too. Nizakat flashed at a wide, swinging loosener from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and the edge flew six centimetres – according to a TV graphic - from Dhawan’s outstretched hand at slip.
Nizakat, whose 20-ball innings of 38 in the final of the qualifying competition against UAE was a large reason for Hong Kong being here, was the aggressor again.
His 92 mixed raw power with silky stroke-play. He went to his half-century with an 84 metre six, as Hong Kong took 17 off one over from the beleaguered Shardul Thakur.
Against the seam bowlers, Hong Kong looked confident. But their strike-rate waned against the slow bowlers, and they paid for the pressure that was asserted on them.
Kuldeep Yadav was particularly thrifty, and it was he who dismissed Rath, caught at extra cover by Rohit Sharma for 73.
Khaleel, who was making his debut, then fired out Nizakat and Chris Carter, and the rot had set. Yuzvendra Chahal took three wickets with his leg-spin, and Kuldeep two with his left-arm leg-breaks.
Appropriately, it was left to Khaleel, who ended with three wickets in total, to bowl the final over, and to see the defending champions to an opening win.
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Martin Amis,
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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.”
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Director:Anthony Hayes
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South Africa v India schedule
Tests: 1st Test Jan 5-9, Cape Town; 2nd Test Jan 13-17, Centurion; 3rd Test Jan 24-28, Johannesburg
ODIs: 1st ODI Feb 1, Durban; 2nd ODI Feb 4, Centurion; 3rd ODI Feb 7, Cape Town; 4th ODI Feb 10, Johannesburg; 5th ODI Feb 13, Port Elizabeth; 6th ODI Feb 16, Centurion
T20Is: 1st T20I Feb 18, Johannesburg; 2nd T20I Feb 21, Centurion; 3rd T20I Feb 24, Cape Town
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- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
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It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
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The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
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If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
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