A Sharjah-based cricket coach says he is fulfilling a lifetime ambition after being selected to join the ranks of the international game for the first time.
Kashif Daud is one of four uncapped players in the UAE squad to face Ireland in the one-day international series in Abu Dhabi, which starts on Friday.
The call up represents a belated shot at the international game for a player who turns 35 next month, and who once foresaw an entirely different route to the top.
Born in Sialkot, he harboured the childhood dream of playing for Pakistan, and had a 10-year first-class career alongside luminaries such as Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq and Imran Nazir before moving to UAE.
In his last match in the Qaid-e-Azam Trophy, he took seven for 30 – only to be cut from the side immediately after.
“I was playing with all the big names of Pakistan cricket at that time, then I don’t know what happened,” Daud said.
“At that time, in my department the competition was very high. Maybe they wanted to bring new kids into the team, but I don’t know why they dropped me.
“I gave my best, took seven wickets in my last match. I don’t know what happened there.
“After I came back to Pakistan from playing as an overseas player in Scotland, I was still not selected, so I thought I had to move somewhere else.”
Daud was invited to the UAE by his friend Mohammed Qasim, the former national team batsman, and he travelled on a tourist visa for a month in 2016.
He loved it, and made it his home after he secured a job as a coach at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
“When I went to the UK for the first time [as an overseas pro in club cricket] I had done my Level 2 coaching course,” Daud said.
“To go to the UK to play, you had to have done coaching courses, too. I was very young, and wanted to play for my country, Pakistan, but I thought ‘No problem’.
“When I came to UAE in 2016, I was looking for a job, any job. I went to Sharjah Cricket Stadium. They wanted to add new players to their team.
“I bowled in the nets at a trial. I told them I had done my Level 2 coaching course, and they said: ‘OK, we are looking for a coach as well.’
“They offered a handsome package, a residence visa, and I was very grateful, because I was looking for a job.”
Daud has repaid Sharjah’s faith on the playing field, as well as the training one. As recently as last month, he won them the title at the Emirates D20 at Dubai International Stadium.
An allrounder whose stronger suit is generally regarded to be his bowling, he hit a half century in the semi-final to beat an ECB Blues team that was largely the UAE team by another name.
Then he was man of the match in the final as Sharjah beat the previously undefeated Fujairah to snatch the title, thanks to his 51 not out.
His excellence in a tournament that was streamed live online was well timed. First, he landed a deal to play for Delhi Bulls in the Abu Dhabi T10.
And now he has been called up to the national team for the first time, too, for the series against Ireland.
“It means a lot to me to play international cricket,” Daud said of his selection.
“I wished I could have played for Pakistan, but now I’m resident over here for the past four years. I feel I’m a local over here. This is my second home.
“I think 2021 has already been lucky for me. I have been picked for two big things. First, to represent the UAE in international cricket, and secondly, as part of the Abu Dhabi T10.
“After finishing this series, I am very excited to be part of Delhi Bulls as well.”
The first one-day international between UAE and Ireland starts at 9.30am on Friday at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The four matches will be streamed live online.
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
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How green is the expo nursery?
Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo
Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery
Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape
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Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers
About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer
Main themes of expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.
Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
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Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
