From the ashes of the Deccan will rise the Sunrisers? In one sense, the Sunrisers Hyderabad are an old team: the IPL franchise from Hyderabad was previously known as the Deccan Chargers and owned by the Deccan Chronicle media group, before their franchise rights were terminated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India over a payment dispute. They still retain many of the older players.
But, in another sense, this is a new team. They have a new name and a new owner in Sun TV, a vast television network with 32 channels and 45 radio stations.
Prospects
Despite the upheaval, do not rule out some surprise results from the Sunrisers. They still retain some good players from the Deccan days. This season, they have installed Tom Moody as coach, taken on Waqar Younis as a bowling consultant and have VVS Laxman around as a mentor.
They have also been active and shrewd at the auction, picking up Darren Sammy, the West Indies captain, Quinton de Kock and Clint McKay among others. The three, together with the core of men such as Kumar Sangakkara, Cameron White and Dale Steyn, means that they will not be taken as lightly as the other newish team, the Pune Warriors, for example.
Star foreign signing
Late last year, he also led them to their first world title in decades and that achievement cannot be swept aside by any concerns over his own place in the side. In fact, the World Twenty20 win in Sri Lanka has rightly upped his stock, though US$425,000 (Dh1.6 million) is still fairly cheap for a world champion.
Star Indian player
The Sunrisers have fairly decent home talent, of a serviceable quality for the purposes of the IPL, at least. Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Parthiv Patel and VRV Singh should be cause for worry for most opposition.
But, fittingly for this age of the overnight star, no local player will have more spotlight on him than Shikhar Dhawan.
The left-handed batsman announced himself on the Test stage with an audacious hundred against Australia, the fastest ton on debut.
It won him the match award as well, and though he could not bat again after fracturing his hand, when he walks out for the Sunrisers' first game of the season, all eyes will be on him.
Previous history
Strictly speaking, the Sunrisers have none. But if we can use the history of the Deccan Chargers as a guide, then, well, we cannot really find a pattern.
They finished at the bottom of the inaugural season, a truly miserable performance of only two wins from 14 games.
Then they finished fourth the following season in the league and won the trophy.
They made another semi-final the following year after finishing second in the league, but have since slipped away alarmingly. In their past two seasons, they have finished seventh and eighth.
Not a bad time to start afresh.
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
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Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now
There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:
1. Rising US interest rates
The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.
Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”
At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.
2. Stronger dollar
High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.”
3. Global trade war
Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”
4. Eurozone uncertainty
Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”
The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Results
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EElite%20men%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E1.%20Amare%20Hailemichael%20Samson%20(ERI)%202%3A07%3A10%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Leornard%20Barsoton%20(KEN)%202%3A09%3A37%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Ilham%20Ozbilan%20(TUR)%202%3A10%3A16%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Gideon%20Chepkonga%20(KEN)%202%3A11%3A17%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Isaac%20Timoi%20(KEN)%202%3A11%3A34%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EElite%20women%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E1.%20Brigid%20Kosgei%20(KEN)%202%3A19%3A15%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Hawi%20Feysa%20Gejia%20(ETH)%202%3A24%3A03%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Sintayehu%20Dessi%20(ETH)%202%3A25%3A36%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Aurelia%20Kiptui%20(KEN)%202%3A28%3A59%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Emily%20Kipchumba%20(KEN)%202%3A29%3A52%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
