DUBAI // Pakistan and New Zealand start their five-match one-day series in Dubai on Monday, with the focus on building confidence and momentum for next year's World Cup, which is just two months away.
It promises to be a keenly fought contest after they ended honours even in the earlier three-Test series and two-match Twenty20.
Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq said his team can build confidence and momentum.
“This is one of our last chances before the World Cup, to look how we will go into the World Cup, so the focus is on that,” Misbah said.
“Pitches are different here [from Australia and New Zealand where the World Cup is being hosted], but I still think the confidence and the momentum of this series will help us and it will not matter even if we are playing on different pitches here.”
Pakistan have recalled experienced batsman Younis Khan after dropping him from the three-match ODI series against Australia, which they lost 3-0 in October in the UAE.
Misbah believes Younis will provide valuable experience.
“His experience will help us,” said Misbah, who hinted that Pakistan will use a specialist opening pair instead of wicket-keeper batsman Sarfraz Ahmed at the top of the order.
“We want to go in with genuine openers and want the first four batsmen settled before going to the World Cup,” he said.
Misbah praised New Zealand as a dangerous side.
“New Zealand have adaptability, and they have all-rounders and good spinners who can win matches for their team,” Misbah said.
Pakistan have been missing ace spinner Saeed Ajmal, suspended for an illegal bowling action two months ago, and their problems were further compounded when all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez’s action was also reported last month.
A report on Hafeez’s action is expected next week.
“We were jolted after Ajmal’s suspension and if Hafeez is not there, then our balance will be affected,” Misbah said.
New Zealand’s stand-in captain Kane Williamson – Brendon McCullum left after the Tests to prepare for the home series against Sri Lanka – said Pakistan remain a dangerous side, even without Ajmal.
“We know it’s a big challenge because Pakistan play well here, they have depth, and even without Ajmal, whichever side they put out is strong,” Williamson said.
New Zealand play two Tests and seven ODIs against Sri Lanka starting later this month.
“There is so much cricket before the World Cup and this series is the focus, but we are conscious of the big event,” Williamson said.
All-rounder Corey Anderson will return after missing the second T20 as a precautionary measure after being hit by a bouncer on Thursday, but opener Martin Guptill is still being monitored for a tight hamstring.
Follow us on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
Top Hundred overseas picks
London Spirit: Kieron Pollard, Riley Meredith
Welsh Fire: Adam Zampa, David Miller, Naseem Shah
Manchester Originals: Andre Russell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sean Abbott
Northern Superchargers: Dwayne Bravo, Wahab Riaz
Oval Invincibles: Sunil Narine, Rilee Rossouw
Trent Rockets: Colin Munro
Birmingham Phoenix: Matthew Wade, Kane Richardson
Southern Brave: Quinton de Kock
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
