For the second time in the past two Asia Cups, Hong Kong have deprived UAE the chance to play against cricket’s giants on home soil.
Just as they did in 2018, back when the competition was last played before its Covid-enforced break, they beat the national team to the big prize.
The format might be different this time around, with the sides vying in T20 competition rather than 50 overs. But Hong Kong again overpowered UAE in a run chase.
The eight-wicket win in Muscat consigned the national team to third place in the four-team tournament. Hong Kong, by contrast, can look ahead to matches against the might of India and Pakistan in the Emirates next week.
When the day started, UAE had looked well positioned, at least knowing that their fate was in their own hands.
At that stage, a win over unbeaten Hong Kong appeared as though it would be enough to carry them through, so superior was their net run-rate (NRR) advantage.
They were ahead of Hong Kong on that count - if not points - and Kuwait, the other side who could make it to a three-way tie on four points, were way behind on NRR.
And then Kuwait made a joke of the predictions by obliterating Singapore in the opening match of the evening at the Oman Cricket Academy.
Singapore, who are coached by the former Pakistan captain Salman Butt, were first shot out for 104 with a ball left of their 20 overs.
Kuwait, who beat UAE by one wicket in their opening game of the competition, then raced to their target in just 7.5 overs. All of which meant a massive NRR boost for Kuwait.
By the time UAE lost the toss and were inserted in the match which followed, they knew they would need to win by 56 runs or more if they were to vault back above their Gulf neighbours.
That appeared far-fetched almost from the off, as UAE lost each of their celebrated top three – Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri and Vriitya Aravind – by the time they had 25 on the board.
As the national team tried to rebuild, progress was slow. Captain CP Rizwan made it to 49 from 44 balls to top score, but it needed the urgency of Zawar Farid to give UAE something to bowl at.
The all-rounder blazed 41 from 27 balls after coming in at No 7, as UAE reached 147 before being bowled out midway through their last over.
Ehsan Khan was Hong Kong’s star with the ball, as he took four for 24 from four overs, while Ayush Shukla's three for 30 included the prize wicket of the in-form Waseem.
Their batters made easy work of the run chase to complete a third win in the competition, and render all the NRR calculations irrelevant.
Yasim Murtaza led the way at the top of the order, making a half century, as Hong Kong booked their trip to the main event with six balls to spare.
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Twelve books were longlisted for The Orwell Prize for Political Writing. The non-fiction works cover various themes from education, gender bias, and the environment to surveillance and political power. Some of the books that made it to the non-fiction longlist include:
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- Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez
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The specs
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'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
