The UAE enjoyed a substantial boost as they count down to next year’s World Cup after Saqib Ali announced his return to form in the win over Papua New Guinea on Thursday.
The Abu Dhabi-based batsman has been a pillar of the national team’s batting line up for the past decade.
However, his contribution to the cause in recent years has been inhibited by chronic back problems.
Before the current tour of western Australia, he had been out of the squad for nearly a year.
Even then, he had only been back for a couple of months after a further year out following surgery on his back.
If the UAE are to be competitive at the World Cup in six months time, the 36-year-old batsman will need to play a full part.
As such, his return to form in the seven-wicket win over PNG in Darwin was the most positive news to emerge from the tour so far.
Saqib, who captained the UAE the last time they played against major Test opposition, at the 2008 Asia Cup in his native Pakistan, made an undefeated 73.
In truth, the national team cantered to their win over a PNG side who also enjoy full one-day international status and play regular cricket in Australia.
The win, which was the UAE’s second in two days since flying north from Perth, was earned as the national team chased 268 for the loss of just three wickets.
Saqib top scored, while Amjad Ali (51) and Swapnil Patil (72 not out) also made half-centuries.
So easy was it for the UAE, their two most reliable batsmen, Khurram Khan and Shaiman Anwar did not even have to take to the crease.
In a further boost to the national team, Nasir Aziz took three wickets in a parsimonious 10-over stint with the ball.
Nasir is also making a return to the side, having been ruled out of the game earlier this years while his suspect bowling action was analysed.
He is now prohibited from bowling the doosra which brought him so much success in the past, but he is confident he can thrive having developed two new variations in the meantime.
pradley@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Recipe
Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo
Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Method
▶ Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.
▶ Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.
▶ Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking, remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.
▶ Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.
