DUBAI // Shahid Afridi's army of UAE-based supporters will get a second chance to see their idol in action within the space of a month, when he lines up alongside a team of baggage handlers and cabin crew at next month's Emirates Twenty20.
The 29-year-old all-rounder will play for Fly Emirates, the domestic club side made up of airline employees, during the weekend festival of the abridged format at The Sevens.
The side, which is otherwise made up of amateur players, will be taking on two English counties, Sussex and Surrey, as well as the South African side, Cape Cobras, on March 19 and 20.
"It is going to be a tough challenge, but I am looking forward to it immensely," said Afridi. "I always enjoy my time in Dubai. I know there is a real passion among cricket fans in the UAE and it will be great to play in front of them."
Afridi, who captains Pakistan in the 20-over game, is in the middle of a two-match ban for ball tampering. He should return for the second of two Twenty20s against England on Saturday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
While the term "freelance crick-eter" may initially have been coined in reference to Andrew Flintoff, the injured England all-rounder, it is Afridi who is really becoming the first Twenty20 hired hand.
He played for the South Australia Redbacks in Australia's recent Twenty20 Big Bash, and will represent Hampshire in the England Twenty20 Cup this summer.
He would also have been certain of a lucrative deal in the Indian Premier League, had Pakistan players not been sidelined by visa issues.
His latest colleagues may only have the chance to call him their teammate for a weekend, but the prospect already has them salivating. "I can't believe that Shahid Afridi will be playing for us," said Nigel Fernandes, the UAE batsman and Fly Emirates captain.
"He is a player I greatly admire. He is a natural talent who can win matches single-handedly.
"It will be an incredible experience for everyone in the team and a real honour to line up beside him."
@Email:pradley@thenational.ae
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness'
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams
Rating: 3/5
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Celebrated on October 16, to coincide with the founding date of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, World Food Day aims to tackle issues such as hunger, food security, food waste and the environmental impact of food production.
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Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
Who is Tim-Berners Lee?
Sir Tim Berners-Lee was born in London in a household of mathematicians and computer scientists. Both his mother, Mary Lee, and father, Conway, were early computer scientists who worked on the Ferranti 1 - the world's first commercially-available, general purpose digital computer. Sir Tim studied Physics at the University of Oxford and held a series of roles developing code and building software before moving to Switzerland to work for Cern, the European Particle Physics laboratory. He developed the worldwide web code as a side project in 1989 as a global information-sharing system. After releasing the first web code in 1991, Cern made it open and free for all to use. Sir Tim now campaigns for initiatives to make sure the web remains open and accessible to all.
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General classification:
1. Remco Evenepoel (BEL) Soudal Quick-Step
2. Lucas Plapp (AUS) Ineos Grenaders – 9sec
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain Victorious – 13sec
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The Baghdad Clock
Shahad Al Rawi, Oneworld
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