DUBAI // Nine back-breaking overs on the run in searing heat. More or less unplayable, in spite of facilities designed to make it as good as impossible for bowlers of his type. And still no five-wicket haul to show for it.
It could have been worse, though. The last time Wahab Riaz stole the show with such a spell-binding spell of fast bowling, his side lost, were dumped out of the World Cup, and he was censured by the ICC for crimes against tepid cricket.
At least this time around the indefatigable Pakistani can look forward to celebrating a victory at some point over the next two days, which would put his side one-up with just the Test in Sharjah left in the series.
Thanks broadly to his return of three wickets – those of Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler – for 15 runs in nine morning overs, Pakistan have England at their mercy in this series.
A century stand between old-stagers Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq late in the day means the home side are already out of sight.
That is reward enough for the man of the moment, whose overall figures of four for 66 from 19 spoke little of the feats he performed. “If I could have got a five-for, it would have been a very special one, but still it was very good because it helped my team,” Wahab said.
“At times it happens where you bowl really well but don’t get a wicket. Sometimes it happens that you can get a wicket on a bad ball.
“In cricket you always have to put effort into it. I think I was quite lucky to get wickets on these tracks. The energy is always there. It is just that it was going really good for me.
“I had that visualisation that I might get some wickets in that spell. I kept bowling and I got the reward of doing that.”
Wahab, who hit Stuart Broad with an 89mph bouncer in the ninth over of his spell, had the perfect foil at the other end in the form of Yasir Shah.
The fit-again leg-spinner continued his stunning start to life in Test cricket with another four wickets this time around.
It is safe to assume he will be an even more potent threat in the last innings, on a worn pitch, with the added pressure of a substantial target for England to theoretically chase.
Root, who top-scored with 88 for England but whose dismissal started the collapse, rued injudicious shot selection.
“We have got to pitch up tomorrow and put in a better performance than today because we just weren’t good enough,” Root said at the close of play.
“Fair play to Pakistan – they put us under a lot of pressure. They bowled very consistently. They got the ball to reverse at good speeds. We weren’t able to handle that.
“The leg-spinner bowled with some good control.
“But if we’re being brutally honest, there were a few shots in our dismissals we probably want to rethink.”
pradley@thenational.ae
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Mountain Classification Tour de France after Stage 8 on Saturday:
- 1. Lilian Calmejane (France / Direct Energie) 11
- 2. Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana) 10
- 3. Daniel Martin (Ireland / Quick-Step) 8
- 4. Robert Gesink (Netherlands / LottoNL) 8
- 5. Warren Barguil (France / Sunweb) 7
- 6. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 6
- 7. Guillaume Martin (France / Wanty) 6
- 8. Jan Bakelants (Belgium / AG2R) 5
- 9. Serge Pauwels (Belgium / Dimension Data) 5
- 10. Richie Porte (Australia / BMC Racing) 4
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Sub Regional Qualifier
Event info: The tournament in Kuwait this month is the first phase of the qualifying process for sides from Asia for the 2020 World T20 in Australia. The UAE must finish within the top three teams out of the six at the competition to advance to the Asia regional finals. Success at regional finals would mean progression to the World T20 Qualifier.
UAE’s fixtures: Fri Apr 20, UAE v Qatar; Sat Apr 21, UAE v Saudi Arabia; Mon Apr 23, UAE v Bahrain; Tue Apr 24, UAE v Maldives; Thu Apr 26, UAE v Kuwait
World T20 2020 Qualifying process:
- Sixteen teams will play at the World T20 in two years’ time.
- Australia have already qualified as hosts
- Nine places are available to the top nine ranked sides in the ICC’s T20i standings, not including Australia, on Dec 31, 2018.
- The final six teams will be decided by a 14-team World T20 Qualifier.
World T20 standings: 1 Pakistan; 2 Australia; 3 India; 4 New Zealand; 5 England; 6 South Africa; 7 West Indies; 8 Sri Lanka; 9 Afghanistan; 10 Bangladesh; 11 Scotland; 12 Zimbabwe; 13 UAE; 14 Netherlands; 15 Hong Kong; 16 Papua New Guinea; 17 Oman; 18 Ireland
Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE
There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Results
3pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,400m, Winner: Lancienegaboulevard, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Fawzi Nass (trainer).
3.35pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Turf) 1,600m, Winner: Al Mukhtar Star, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
4.10pm: Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner: Gundogdu, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.45pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Speedy Move, Sean Kirrane, Satish Seemar.
5.20pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Moqarrar, Dane O’Neill, Erwan Charpy.
5.55pm: Handicap Dh175,000 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Dolman, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
Sting & Shaggy
44/876
(Interscope)
