The remainder of UAE’s one-day international series with Ireland is in doubt due to the effects of coronavirus on the national team.
It was confirmed late on Monday night that the second one-day international between the two sides in Abu Dhabi had been suspended for a second time, after a fourth positive Covid case in the home team.
“Emirates Cricket Board has confirmed that [Tuesday’s] match in the Sky247.net ODI Series 2021 against Ireland has been suspended,” the board wrote in a statement at 10.23pm the night before the game.
“This decision, supported by Cricket Ireland, was made after a new directive was received from authorities.
“This followed over 48 hours of self-isolation by the UAE team after four reported positive cases of Covid-19.
“Additionally, the directive from the authorities requires the UAE team to remain in quarantine for an extended period of time.
“Discussions are continuing with all concerned parties, including the relevant authorities, regarding rescheduling of the remaining matches.
"A decision will be made and communicated once an agreement has been reached and approved.”
The fixture had already been delayed by two days after Alishan Sharafu had become the third UAE player to test positive for Covid-19. The identity of the fourth case has not been revealed.
Before a ball had been bowled in the series, Chirag Suri and Aryan Lakra had been put into isolation after testing positive for coronavirus.
Vice-captain Suri had received his results on Thursday January 7, while newcomer Lakra received his early the following morning, which was the day of the opening fixture.
Although those two cases were announced in the hours before the first match, the game still went ahead, with the UAE going on to take their first ODI win against the Irish.
As per the safety requirements for this series, all players are tested two days before each game.
Because the matches were scheduled to take place on alternate days, that meant they were all retested immediately after play on the first day.
Sharafu, who had made his ODI debut in that match on Friday, then tested positive when his result was returned after the swabs were taken on Friday.
It meant he spent his 18th birthday on Sunday – which was the day the second game was initially scheduled for – in medical quarantine.
When contacted on Sunday, the ECB decline to clarify the situation regarding the players, and explain who was deemed to be a close contact, given Sharafu had played a full part in the first match.
As with the first suspension of the game on Sunday, the announcement came via a statement late the night before the game was due to take place.
Ireland have not reported any positive tests, and they appeared to be expecting the rescheduled game to be going ahead as planned on Tuesday.
“While disappointing for players and fans alike, Cricket Ireland thanks the Emirates Cricket Board and Abu Dhabi Cricket for their transparency and cooperation at this time, and will continue to monitor the situation over coming days,” Ireland said.
“As always, the health and safety of players and support staff will remain Cricket Ireland’s priority.”
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.”
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
The Ashes
Results
First Test, Brisbane: Australia won by 10 wickets
Second Test, Adelaide: Australia won by 120 runs
Third Test, Perth: Australia won by an innings and 41 runs
Fourth Test: Melbourne: Drawn
Fifth Test: Australia won by an innings and 123 runs
Stats at a glance:
Cost: 1.05 billion pounds (Dh 4.8 billion)
Number in service: 6
Complement 191 (space for up to 285)
Top speed: over 32 knots
Range: Over 7,000 nautical miles
Length 152.4 m
Displacement: 8,700 tonnes
Beam: 21.2 m
Draught: 7.4 m
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