Peshawar Zalmi 166/6 (20 ov)
Lahore Qalandars 149/9 (20 ov)
Peshawar won by 17 runs
DUBAI // Kamran Akmal did his talking with the bat for Peshawar Zalmi on Friday, before making an impassioned plea to be reconsidered for Pakistan national duty with words, too.
The 35-year-old wicketkeeper batsman scored 58 to set up a 17-run win for Peshawar against Lahore Qalandars in the HBL Pakistan Super League.
It was his second half-century of the competition, and he said he is doing all he can to force his way back into the plans of the national team.
“The best answer can come from selectors,” said Akmal, who last featured for Pakistan in the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh in 2014.
“I have done so much, they are the ones who should answer. A batsman can only score runs, and I have done that.
“They should give the reason for not considering me. It’s not just me, but for all those who are playing and performing in domestic competitions.
“The only reason for not considering any player should be the fitness and performance, but I am doing every thing to make a point.”
Given he wears the gloves, Akmal is technically competing for one spot in the Pakistan side, against Sarfaz Ahmed, the recently-appointed limited-overs captain who is perhaps the most firmly established player in the side now.
However, as sides like Sri Lanka and England regularly field more than one player recognised as a wicketkeeper, Akmal believes he merits consideration as a batsman.
“In every team, three wicketkeepers are playing, and some are playing as batsman,” he said. “I have performed with the bat and it’s not just that I am making my case only as wicketkeeper batsman.
“I am trying to make a comeback — that is why I am playing cricket. It’s my passion to play for Pakistan and whatever it is, four or five years left in me, I want to play it at the top, for me and for my country.”
Akmal, who has played more than 250 times across all three formats for Pakistan, cites the example set by Misbah-ul-Haq, whose greatest achievements as the national team captain have come after he turned 40.
“He made his comeback, led the team to No 1 and won a lot for Pakistan,” he said. “While I am fit and performing, I shouldn’t give up.
“My family are motivated, my fans and my domestic teams all stood by me all the way. These are the things that encourage you and help you make a comeback. My passion is still alive, and players like me need support and confidence.”
Akmal will be able to further his case during the business stage of the competition. The win over Lahore confirmed Zalmi’s place in the playoffs.
Qalandars were undone by a woeful collapse, losing six wickets for five runs, for the second time in the competition against the same opposition.
“It was a two-paced wicket, and the batsmen tried their best but unfortunately today wasn’t our day,” Amir Yamin, the Qalandars all-rounder, said.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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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.”
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
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5. Zakat
