There is one week to go until the top two sides meet in the first playoff game in the 2021 Indian Premier League, which will decide the first side through to the October 15 final.
Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals are the only sides guaranteed a place in the knockout stage so far.
Here are the permutations to consider if Mumbai Indians are going to stand a chance of retaining their title, and to decide which of the other sides will be going home early.
Points table (October 3, 2021)
(Position; team; played; won; lost; net run rate; points)
- Chennai Super Kings 12 9 3 +0.829 18
- Delhi Capitals 12 9 3 +0.551 18
- Royal Challengers Bangalore 11 7 4 -0.200 14
- Kolkata Knight Riders 12 5 7 +0.302 10
- Punjab Kings 12 5 7 -0.236 10
- Rajasthan Royals 12 5 7 -0.337 10
- Mumbai Indians 12 5 7 -0.453 10
- Sunrisers Hyderabad 11 2 9 -0.490 4
Permutations by team
Chennai Super Kings
Remaining fixtures
Mon Oct 4, v Delhi, Dubai
Thu Oct 7, v Punjab, Dubai
What they need to do
After an off year last season in the UAE – the lone season in history when they failed to make the playoffs – they are straight back on the horse this time, as the first side to earn qualification.
Given the health of their net run rate, a win against either Delhi or Punjab would all but guarantee a place in the qualifier-final on Sunday, October 10. Two wins would make a top-two finish certain.
Delhi Capitals
Remaining fixtures
Mon Oct 4, v Chennai, Dubai
Fri Oct 8, v Bangalore, Dubai
What they need to do
Winning each of their remaining games would guarantee a place in Sunday’s qualifier – meaning two shots, if required, at a place in the final.
If they were to beat Chennai and lose to Bangalore, the latter would have a chance of matching their points total of 20 by winning all three of their remaining matches.
But Delhi’s run rate far exceeds that of Bangalore, so they appear well placed to play a qualifier against Chennai.
Two losses would mean Bangalore could potentially beat them to a place in the qualifier - but at least an eliminator place is already guaranteed.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Remaining fixtures
Sun Oct 3, v Punjab, Sharjah
Wed Oct 6, v Hyderabad, Abu Dhabi
Fri Oct 8, v Delhi, Dubai
What they need to do
Virat Kohli’s side could still force their way into the top two, and earn a place in the qualifier, if they win all three fixtures in dominant fashion.
However, a place in the first eliminator final appears the more likely option – although it remains just about possible they could miss out entirely.
They have a four-point cushion on the four sides below them – each of whom have two matches still to play.
Of those sides, only Kolkata – in fourth – have a superior run rate to Bangalore, so Kohli’s men are still enviably placed.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Remaining fixtures
Sun Oct 3, v Hyderabad, Dubai
Thu Oct 7, v Rajasthan, Sharjah
What they need to do
Kolkata are the only side in the league – other than the top two – to have a positive net run-rate.
As such, it is highly improbable they would be denied an eliminator place if they were to win both their remaining matches.
That would even be enough to leapfrog Bangalore into third, if Virat Kohli’s side were to lose all their three remaining games.
Lose out to either Hyderabad or Rajasthan, and Kolkata would be lucky if they were not beaten to fourth place by any of the three sides below them.
Losing both games would see them eliminated.
Punjab Kings
Remaining fixtures
Sun Oct 3, v Bangalore, Sharjah
Thu Oct 7, v Chennai, Dubai
What they need to do
KL Rahul’s side face a daunting task. In all likelihood, they will need to win both their remaining matches, against table-topping CSK and a Bangalore side who are still fighting for their own progress.
If they do win both, they will have to hope Kolkata do not do similar. It is mathematically possible they could turn around the substantial run rate difference, but not realistic.
If Punjab win two, Kolkata win one, and Rajasthan and Mumbai win two, it would be down to run rate as to who takes fourth place. Currently, Punjab’s is superior.
Rajasthan Royals
Remaining fixtures
Tue Oct 5, v Mumbai, Sharjah
Thu Oct 7, v Kolkata, Sharjah
What they have to do
Rajasthan arrested a run of three defeats in spectacular fashion when they beat Chennai in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night, and thus breathed life into their playoff hopes.
Now they face another game which is as good as a final, when they play Mumbai in Sharjah on Tuesday.
Defeat for either would be as good as a knockout blow – even if they might still mathematically be alive to fight for fourth place.
In all likelihood, Rajasthan need to win both their remaining games – which would put them above Kolkata - then hope Punjab do not do similar.
Mumbai Indians
Remaining fixtures
Tue Oct 5, v Rajasthan, Sharjah
Fri Oct 8, v Hyderabad, Abu Dhabi
What they have to do
Mumbai’s title defence has shuddered to a halt since the tournament decamped to UAE. They have lost four of five matches since the season resumed, leaving them perilously close to an early exit.
If they beat both Rajasthan and Hyderabad that could be enough for fourth, but they would be reliant on each of Kolkata and Punjab losing one of their two remaining matches.
If either – or both – those sides win each of their remaining games, Mumbai are realistically out.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Remaining fixtures
Sun Oct 3, v Kolkata, Dubai
Wed Oct 6, v Bangalore, Abu Dhabi
Fri Oct 8, v Mumbai
What they have to do
Hyderabad must be fed up they are still here, seeing as they are long been unable to qualify.
With three matches still to play in the final week though, all against sides who are pursuing a place in the top four, they could still have a say in who advances.
The Energy Research Centre
Founded 50 years ago as a nuclear research institute, scientists at the centre believed nuclear would be the “solution for everything”.
Although they still do, they discovered in 1955 that the Netherlands had a lot of natural gas. “We still had the idea that, by 2000, it would all be nuclear,” said Harm Jeeninga, director of business and programme development at the centre.
"In the 1990s, we found out about global warming so we focused on energy savings and tackling the greenhouse gas effect.”
The energy centre’s research focuses on biomass, energy efficiency, the environment, wind and solar, as well as energy engineering and socio-economic research.
Mica
Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
3 stars
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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The biog
Age: 32
Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.
Favourite mountain range: The Himalayas
Favourite experience: Two months trekking in Alaska
Second ODI
England 322-7 (50 ovs)
India 236 (50 ovs)
England win by 86 runs
Next match: Tuesday, July 17, Headingley
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.”
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: CVT
Power: 170bhp
Torque: 220Nm
Price: Dh98,900
Surianah's top five jazz artists
Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
SPEC SHEET
Display: 10.4-inch IPS LCD, 400 nits, toughened glass
CPU: Unisoc T610; Mali G52 GPU
Memory: 4GB
Storage: 64GB, up to 512GB microSD
Camera: 8MP rear, 5MP front
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio
Battery: 8200mAh, up to 10 hours video
Platform: Android 11
Audio: Stereo speakers, 2 mics
Durability: IP52
Biometrics: Face unlock
Price: Dh849
Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
THE SPECS
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
On sale: now
