The UAE capital is all set to host its first cricket tournament along the lines of the Fifa Club World Cup.
Abu Dhabi Cricket (ADC) on Wednesday launched the Abu Dhabi T20 Trophy, which gets under way at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday, as part of its ambitious bid to make the emirate a hub of the game.
The ADC began this project by lending a stage to international and club competitions organised by cricket boards outside the country - the annual Pakistan Super League being a case in point. Having been there and done that, however, it was time for to have its own tournament.
“We wanted to follow something on the lines of the Fifa Club World Cup, where international teams are invited to Abu Dhabi,” ADC's acting chief executive Matt Boucher said, referring to the annual football competition that pits the best club teams from each of the six continents, as well as the winners of the host country's national league, against each other.
Boucher said the three-day tournament marks the ADC's first step towards establishing its own brand, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC).
“We know what we are doing," Boucher said. "It’s time to move ahead from just hosting events run by the Pakistan Cricket Board or the Board of Control for Cricket in India."
The inaugural season will see six franchises from six countries drawn into two groups of three, with round-robin games leading up to the final between the top two sides on Saturday.
"When we are hosting PCB or BCCI events, the marketing and promotion is not ours. We are paid a budget to run that event on their behalf,” Boucher pointed out.
"This is the first time ever we are running a cricket tournament."
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Read more:
Mark Boucher says franchise tournaments like the Abu Dhabi T20 vital for the game
Passela's guide to Abu Dhabi T20: Teams, fixtures, tickets and all you need to know
Abu Dhabi T20 Trophy to welcome 'best of the best' teams for inaugural tournament
AB de Villiers: UAE T20x will help assist Associate Nations in developing players
Emirates Cricket Board aims for UAE T20x to have long-term impact on game
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The Abu Dhabi T20 joins an ADSC calendar already packed with 120 events, including the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, UAE Tour, ITU World Triathlon and Club World Cup.
But despite prior experience, Boucher concedes it will be a learning process.
“We are going to take feedback from captains of all the teams," he said. "It is an opportunity for us to learn how to be at the centre of world cricket."
ADSC general secretary Aref Al Awani said the tournament marks the beginning of a new era. “We are delivering on our promise of an exciting new era of cricket in the emirate,” Al Awani said.
“Cricket fans can look forward to three days of exciting, high-level action in what we anticipate will be fiercely-fought games."
Indeed, fans will likely be treated to quality action given that the contest involves the champions of their respective national leagues, including Boost Defenders (Afghanistan), Hobart Hurricanes (Australia), Yorkshire Vikings (England), Lahore Qalandars (Pakistan), Auckland Aces (New Zealand) and Multiply Titans (South Africa).
The Titans are packed with Proteas internationals, including captain Albie Morkel, who returns to the emirate where he played in the Indian Premier League four years ago.
The Cricket Pod
“For some of us, it is very exciting to be playing cricket again in Abu Dhabi," Morkel said. "For most, who haven’t played cricket overseas, they are very excited and can’t wait to get going."
The South African all-rounder is mindful that his teammates have not played much T20 cricket in recent times.
“We are just into the pre-season at home and started the four-day game," he said. "So, we have not had much time to back our T20 skills but hopefully we will make that change quite quickly.”
The Titans face the Defenders on Friday and the Aces on Saturday.
Another side to watch out for will be the Qalandars, led by Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, and brimming with talents handpicked by Aaqib Javed, the former UAE coach who is now with the franchise.
Razzaq hopes the younger players see the big picture. "This tournament presents an opportunity for them to be chosen for the Pakistan Super League,” he said.
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UAE gold medallists:
Omar Al Suweidi (46kg), Khaled Al Shehhi (50kg), Khalifa Humaid Al Kaabi (60kg), Omar Al Fadhli (62kg), Mohammed Ali Al Suweidi (66kg), Omar Ahmed Al Hosani (73), all in the U18’s, and Khalid Eskandar Al Blooshi (56kg) in the U21s.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
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6.30pm Handicap US$135,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner Dubai Future, Harry Bentley (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer).
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Winner George Villiers, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
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Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
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Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
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• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
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There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
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The biog
Favourite books: 'Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life' by Jane D. Mathews and ‘The Moment of Lift’ by Melinda Gates
Favourite travel destination: Greece, a blend of ancient history and captivating nature. It always has given me a sense of joy, endless possibilities, positive energy and wonderful people that make you feel at home.
Favourite pastime: travelling and experiencing different cultures across the globe.
Favourite quote: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders” - Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.
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Favourite Author: Kahlil Gibran
Favourite Artist: Meryl Streep
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
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Company profile
Date started: December 24, 2018
Founders: Omer Gurel, chief executive and co-founder and Edebali Sener, co-founder and chief technology officer
Based: Dubai Media City
Number of employees: 42 (34 in Dubai and a tech team of eight in Ankara, Turkey)
Sector: ConsumerTech and FinTech
Cashflow: Almost $1 million a year
Funding: Series A funding of $2.5m with Series B plans for May 2020
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
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Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
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HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
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THE BIO
Age: 30
Favourite book: The Power of Habit
Favourite quote: "The world is full of good people, if you cannot find one, be one"
Favourite exercise: The snatch
Favourite colour: Blue
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
