DUBAI //Judging by the sort of numbers being quoted for new franchises by its commissioner, Lalit Modi, the global appeal and lustre of the Indian Premier League (IPL) shows no sign of abating. A base price of US$225 million (Dh826m) was set when the global tendering process for the next two IPL franchises officially begun yesterday.
Yet, while the cash continues to flow, the next campaign for the 20-over league will certainly be a poorer place for the absence of the likes of Abdul Razzaq and his Pakistan colleagues. The spectators who witnessed Razzaq's remarkable innings at Dubai Sports City on Saturday night should savour the memory. He is unlikely to be seen near any significant cricket action any time soon. While the game's top players will spend the coming months counting their money, Pakistan's finest will be watching on enviously after being snubbed at the most recent player auctions.
"The IPL issues are all finished now - we will miss the IPL," confirmed Razzaq, 30, following his 46 not out from 18 balls against England. Razzaq reportedly had an offer on the table from the Kolkata Knight Riders, the franchise of Shah Rukh Khan, the Bollywood actor who was vocal in his condemnation of the treatment of the Pakistani players. The contract was all ready to be signed, only for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to rule against Razzaq. The board said they were insulted by the way their leading players had been treated in the latest round of bidding for the franchises. All their lots were left unsold.
The franchises made noises about protesting, but the PCB revoked the no-objection certificates they had previously issued to their players anyway, thus barring them from playing. While this year's IPL will be worse off for their absence, the Pakistan players can at least focus all their attentions on being ready for their World Twenty20 title defence, starting at the end of April. "We are professional cricketers, so whatever our board and our government decide, we have to follow that," said Shoaib Malik, the all-rounder who was Pakistan's captain for the series against England at the weekend. "All of our priorities lie in playing for our country. We love doing well for our country."
Malik insisted that Pakistan's spirits had been lifted by Razzaq's heroics against England, following a woeful recent run. Razzaq himself accepted his side will now be in a better frame of mind going to the Caribbean for their trophy defence, but does not think the format's most successful side can be considered favourites. "I think in Twenty20 cricket, no side can be considered the favourite," he added. "It is all about what happens on the day, and if a team performs well, that team will win."
pradley@thenational.ae
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Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
De Bruyne (70')
Man of the Match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
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It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
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May 2017
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Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
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Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
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Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
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Countries have been coming up with ways to restrict and monitor the use of non-commercial drones to keep them from trespassing on controlled areas such as airports.
"Drones vary in size and some can be as big as a small city car - so imagine the impact of one hitting an airplane. It's a huge risk, especially when commercial airliners are not designed to make or take sudden evasive manoeuvres like drones can" says Saj Ahmed, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research.
New measures have now been taken to monitor drone activity, Geo-fencing technology is one.
It's a method designed to prevent drones from drifting into banned areas. The technology uses GPS location signals to stop its machines flying close to airports and other restricted zones.
The European commission has recently announced a blueprint to make drone use in low-level airspace safe, secure and environmentally friendly. This process is called “U-Space” – it covers altitudes of up to 150 metres. It is also noteworthy that that UK Civil Aviation Authority recommends drones to be flown at no higher than 400ft. “U-Space” technology will be governed by a system similar to air traffic control management, which will be automated using tools like geo-fencing.
The UAE has drawn serious measures to ensure users register their devices under strict new laws. Authorities have urged that users must obtain approval in advance before flying the drones, non registered drone use in Dubai will result in a fine of up to twenty thousand dirhams under a new resolution approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.
Mr Ahmad suggest that "Hefty fines running into hundreds of thousands of dollars need to compensate for the cost of airport disruption and flight diversions to lengthy jail spells, confiscation of travel rights and use of drones for a lengthy period" must be enforced in order to reduce airport intrusion.
