Sport

Silence screamed our unhappiness

The silence in our dressing room after our defeat to Sri Lanka was palpable, a true indication of how much the World Twenty20 meant to each player.

Nathan Bracken

June 11, 2009

  • English
  • Arabic

The silence in our dressing room after our defeat to Sri Lanka was palpable, a true indication of how much the World Twenty20 meant to each player. Four days have now passed from the day and still every one of us is feeling the pain. What we, Australian cricket team, had hoped was not going to happen did not happen. All us players will be sitting back wondering why didn't get this right.

The chances were there for us to take victory, but every time we came up with the play, Sri Lanka responded. They had the last say at key moments, and when you are trying to win cricket games, especially Twenty20 games, you need to take advantage of these moments. It is hard to admit our World Twenty20 is over, but we have to accept that we will not have the chance to win the only trophy yet to sit in our cabinet.

Having seen the pressure that Twenty20 can create and the mistakes that it can force players to make, it will be the team who can best deal with these pressures and come out of the other side thinking correctly who will be smiling at the end of the tournament. India and South Africa are the big two in the Group E, though England, being the host country, know the conditions and have the home crowd advantage.

The Chris Gayle-led West Indies side, the other team in Group E are the dark horses; a team who are perfectly suited to this style of cricket, as we witnessed first hand. It is a tough group with four skilful and explosive teams who can all win this tournament. In Group F are New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Ireland. Twenty20 can throw up all kind of results and this group is packed full of teams who can beat anyone on their day.

It's hard for me to pick a winner of the World Twenty20 because when I arrived in London I thought my Australian team were in with a wonderful chance of coming out on top. Instead, our Test boys are now in training for the forthcoming Ashes against England and our Twenty20 players are on flights home. To see how this tournament pans out will be exciting and it should be great cricket to watch. You never know what luck teams will have and how it will all shape up ahead of the semi-finals. I just wish we were one of them. sports@thenational.ae

The Specs:

The Specs:

Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Power: 444bhp

Torque: 600Nm

Price: AED 356,580 incl VAT

On sale: now.

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

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

Company name: Play:Date

Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day

Founder: Shamim Kassibawi

Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US

Sector: Tech 

Size: 20 employees

Stage of funding: Seed

Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund

The End of Loneliness
Benedict Wells
Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins
Sceptre

Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years 
Syria squad

Goalkeepers: Ibrahim Alma, Mahmoud Al Youssef, Ahmad Madania.
Defenders: Ahmad Al Salih, Moayad Ajan, Jehad Al Baour, Omar Midani, Amro Jenyat, Hussein Jwayed, Nadim Sabagh, Abdul Malek Anezan.
Midfielders: Mahmoud Al Mawas, Mohammed Osman, Osama Omari, Tamer Haj Mohamad, Ahmad Ashkar, Youssef Kalfa, Zaher Midani, Khaled Al Mobayed, Fahd Youssef.
Forwards: Omar Khribin, Omar Al Somah, Mardik Mardikian.

more from mina al-oraibi
Cricket