Mohammed Hafeez scored his sixth Test century on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi. Aamir Qureshi / AFP
Mohammed Hafeez scored his sixth Test century on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi. Aamir Qureshi / AFP
Mohammed Hafeez scored his sixth Test century on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi. Aamir Qureshi / AFP
Mohammed Hafeez scored his sixth Test century on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi. Aamir Qureshi / AFP

‘Struggling’ Mohammed Hafeez comes to the party in Abu Dhabi


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There have not really been any areas of Pakistan’s performances in the last few weeks that merit greater questioning. The only one, if we are being picky, was over the place of Mohammed Hafeez, specifically at the top of the order.

Hafeez has been out of the Test side but was recalled ahead of the series against Australia. It was almost as much for his bowling as a more than useful third spinner as it was for his batting. In the two Tests against Australia he was the only batsman in the top seven to not hit at least a fifty.

So this Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi has been an important one for him and he followed a 96 in the first innings with a sixth Test hundred on the fourth day, his first in over two years; that and more spin took Pakistan to the brink of a series-opening triumph.

New Zealand ended the day on 174 for eight, overwhelmed but not yet defeated. They need, improbably, another 306 runs but at least Ish Sodhi and Mark Craig put forth some resistance in batting out nearly 15 overs to take the match to a fifth day.

“It’s a great feeling, especially in this format, to come out and get runs,” he said. “I was struggling here and at the start of this Test I was really low on confidence. But all my teammates and the coaching staff really pushed me, they really wanted me to score runs and they really gave me that support.”

Hafeez was at it with the ball, too, taking the crucial wicket of Kane Williamson, New Zealand’s best player of spin.

That has been the pattern through the season, Hafeez not only providing inexperienced bowlers with some steady support, but also taking critical wickets.

“It’s always worked for me that way. I see my bowling always as an added [factor] for me and the team. It’s important for me to go out there and do that for the team.”

osamiuddin@thenational.ae

Follow our sports coverage on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE

The specs

Engine: 4 liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous electric motors placed at each wheel

Battery: Rimac 120kWh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry

Power: 1877bhp

Torque: 2300Nm

Price: Dh7,500,00

On sale: Now

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN MARITIME DISPUTE

2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.

2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus

2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.

2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.

2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.

Traits of Chinese zodiac animals

Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent   

Married Malala

Malala Yousafzai is enjoying married life, her father said.

The 24-year-old married Pakistan cricket executive Asser Malik last year in a small ceremony in the UK.

Ziauddin Yousafzai told The National his daughter was ‘very happy’ with her husband.

THE BIO

Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren

Favourite travel destination: Switzerland

Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers

Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5