Usman Khan was just starting to think he had things all figured out.
Cricket in his native Pakistan had not panned out as he had hoped. Now in his mid-20s and with bills to pay, he had left for the UAE for work.
He had found a job in Ajman, with a benevolent, cricket-loving boss who gave him a role in the purchasing department of his gas distribution company.
As much time off to play cricket as he needed, too, so long as he excelled for the staff team, of course.
Maybe a crack at selection for the UAE team if he stays long enough and becomes eligible for selection after three years as a resident.
And why would the national team not want a player who has already scored 18 centuries in UAE's domestic circuit, just seven months after arriving here?
Then, a twist. The right-handed top-order batsman got a call from home to come back and bolster the Quetta Gladiators squad in the PSL.
He warmed the bench for a few games, and then got his chance. And the Multan Sultans bowlers – including internationals like Imran Tahir, Sohail Khan and Carlos Brathwaite – could not live with him.
Now, his professional T20 career record stands at one match played, career average 81, strike rate 162.
Then the PSL was paused because of Covid, and back he headed to UAE. He had one chance to advertise his ability on the biggest scale, and is now back to playing domestic cricket in Sharjah.
What happens next, who knows, but the player himself is just grateful for the faith shown in him by his employers here in UAE.
“I’m stationed in UAE and most of the cricket I play is in UAE, but I got a call to go and play in PSL,” said Usman, who is playing for Fujairah in the Emirates D10.
“Now I am back. I am a permanent resident after I’ve been working for the past seven months with Brothers Gas.
“I had been having some financial issues in Pakistan. The primary reason I came to UAE was to look for a job and make some money. Thankfully, Brothers Gas have really supported me.”
When the PSL returns later this year, Usman plans to be there and to pick up where he left off. He has had a taste of the big time, which he wants to repeat.
“I’m in the UAE and my plans are to play for UAE as well, but I do hope to get a release letter from the game here once cricket starts again in Pakistan,” Usman said.
“When I was playing in the PSL, I was just focused on watching the ball. I didn’t feel any pressure as I had been waiting for this opportunity.
“Once I got my chance, I wanted to play to the best of my potential. I think I showed that, by making 81 runs.
“Thanks to Allah, hopefully I will be able to play more such knocks in the future.”
Tahir Hasan, the general manager of Brothers Gas, knows he has found a “sensation” for his staff cricket team.
And if he now loses him to higher honours in Pakistan, he says no-one will be more delighted than him.
“I’m a passionate cricket person, and started my club 11 years ago playing on cement grounds,” Tahir said.
“We want to give chances to our own players, those who want to play cricket, work, and earn a livelihood.
“I look for people who want to build their career professionally, and enjoy cricket at the same time.”
Usman was recommended to Tahir as a player who had been excelling in club cricket in Karachi.
“I contacted him and he was ready to come and join my club and my company,” Tahir said.
“He has played some good tournaments here, and in no time, he became a sensation.
“Any talent like that should be recognised. It will be good if the Pakistan Cricket Board acknowledges him and his performances, and give him a chance to play even further.
“Inshallah, he could even play for his country. That is what we pray for him.
“I love people having success, and if they can go on and do something big in their life, that is all the reward I need.”
Palestine and Israel - live updates
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.”
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
