Coach John Wright
Last season Winners
Best season Winners 2013
The secret weapon
Krishmar Santokie He only came in on the last day of the auction and at US$50,000 is pocket change in the money-charged IPL, but he could really be the surprise package of Season 7. He is a pretty unassuming left-arm seam bowler, though to call him a seam bowler is a little misleading. He does so many things with that ball that he is almost a fast spinner. Joins fellow West Indian Kieron Pollard in the champions' side.
Best Indian players
Rohit Sharma The captain finally seems to be settling in on the international scene. When he gets going, few better batsmen to watch.
Harbhajan Singh The veteran off-spinner may no longer be India’s No 1, but his experience and personality will count at some stage.
Zaheer Khan Wily smart and the best Indian fast bowler of the last generation, Zaheer will be vital.
Overseas stars
Corey Anderson (NZL) Potentially could be the recruit of the tournament, so prodigious is he as a hitter.
Marchant de Lange (RSA) Another promising and very quick prospect from South Africa’s unending fast bowling production line.
Ben Dunk (AUS) A useful, free-swinging and quick-scoring left-handed wicketkeeper who has made an impression on the Australian domestic scene.
Josh Hazlewood (AUS) On the periphery of the Australian fast bowling scene, the tall, quick Hazlewood is likely to make it one day.
Michael Hussey (AUS) Expect, as ever, 100 per cent from Mr Cricket. He has improved every side he has played for and will do the same here.
Lasith Malinga (SRL) A Twenty20 king, Malinga is a newly crowned World Cup winning captain as well. Expect a positive knock-on effect.
Kieron Pollard (WIN) Returning from injury, Pollard is a cricketer made for the format. He will explode once or twice during the season.
Krishmar Santokie (WIN) An underrated but quickly rising seam bowler, Santokie could be the bargain buy of the season.
Chocolate comparison
If they were chocolate they would be ... Black Forest Gateau
Extremely rich, they have a habit of leaving their supporters feeling slightly nauseous.
sports@thenational.ae
Follow us on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
England's all-time record goalscorers:
Wayne Rooney 53
Bobby Charlton 49
Gary Lineker 48
Jimmy Greaves 44
Michael Owen 40
Tom Finney 30
Nat Lofthouse 30
Alan Shearer 30
Viv Woodward 29
Frank Lampard 29
The years Ramadan fell in May
The biog
Name: Gul Raziq
From: Charsadda, Pakistan
Family: Wife and six children
Favourite holes at Al Ghazal: 15 and 8
Golf Handicap: 6
Childhood sport: cricket
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Norway v Spain, Saturday, 10.45pm, UAE
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures and results:
Monday, UAE won by three wickets
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Baniyas Group 2 (PA) Dh 97,500 (Dirt) 1,400m.
7.05pm Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
7.40pm Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,400m
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,400m
8.50pm Rated Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh 85,000 (D) 2,000m
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Asia Cup Qualifier
Venue: Kuala Lumpur
Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September
Fixtures:
Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman
Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal
Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore
Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu Sep 6: Final
Asia Cup
Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Schedule: Sep 15-28
Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
TICKETS
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
Draw
Quarter-finals
Real Madrid (ESP) or Manchester City (ENG) v Juventus (ITA) or Lyon (FRA)
RB Leipzig (GER) v Atletico Madrid (ESP)
Barcelona (ESP) or Napoli (ITA) v Bayern Munich (GER) or Chelsea (ENG)
Atalanta (ITA) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Ties to be played August 12-15 in Lisbon