Below, Osman Samiuddin outlines the talking points in cricket this week:
No Afridi goodbye
It seems as if the sizeable Pathan population in the UAE might have to wait till the Pakistan Super League (PSL) next February for a glimpse of Shahid Afridi in action.
Over the years of Pakistan's exile in the UAE, Afridi has become a hugely popular crowd-puller in the country, capable of filling up stadiums on his own. Since being replaced by Sarfraz Ahmed as Pakistan's T20 captain, however, Afridi has been in virtual retirement. Of late, reportedly, he has been angling for one final return to the side so that he can be accorded a fitting farewell in the arenas of some of his greatest moments.
Not happening, the Pakistan board confirmed this week and, it has to be said, it is only right. Afridi’s value to the side has long receded and nobody gets to choose how they go, not even the king of retirements.
Goodbye Simmons
It never looked like it was going to last but there will still surely be sadness in some parts of the Caribbean at the sacking of Phil Simmons as West Indies coach.
The polite version had the board identifying “differences in culture and strategic approach.” In reality, this was always a tumultuous pairing, especially because Simmons was unafraid to speak his mind about the administration’s shortcomings. Test results, admittedly, were poor: nine losses in 14 Tests. But he did play a part in the World T20 triumph and was popular with the players. And if there is any doubt about where the problem lies in West Indian cricket there should be no longer. Since the World T20, three key pillars of the team management – former captain Darren Sammy, bowling consultant Curtly Ambrose and now Simmons – have gone.
It’s the board, stupid.
IPL trouble brewing?
On Sunday, the president of the Indian board, Anurag Thakur announced what everyone suspected was coming – an open tender process to find a broadcaster for the next set of IPL’s TV rights.
The current set of rights, held by Sony TV, end at the end of the next season. By itself there is nothing wrong with this; in fact, it adheres to a court-imposed demand to be transparent in its commercial dealings. Except that, according to reports, the existing contract with Sony stipulates that the broadcaster has the right to make a first offer on the next set of rights.
In that light, an open tender is unlikely to leave Sony especially happy about the situation. Legal recourse cannot be ruled out, which ultimately means that the world’s most lucrative cricket league will continue to be embroiled in high-profile controversies as it enters a second decade.
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Japan 30-10 Russia
Tries: Matsushima (3), Labuschange | Golosnitsky
Conversions: Tamura, Matsuda | Kushnarev
Penalties: Tamura (2) | Kushnarev
Royal Birkdale Golf Course
Location: Southport, Merseyside, England
Established: 1889
Type: Private
Total holes: 18
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
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Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
Profile of Whizkey
Date founded: 04 November 2017
Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani
Based: Dubai, UAE
Number of employees: 10
Sector: AI, software
Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million
Funding stage: Series A
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Blah
Started: 2018
Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and talent management
Initial investment: Dh20,000
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 40
What is safeguarding?
“Safeguarding, not just in sport, but in all walks of life, is making sure that policies are put in place that make sure your child is safe; when they attend a football club, a tennis club, that there are welfare officers at clubs who are qualified to a standard to make sure your child is safe in that environment,” Derek Bell explains.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
If you go...
Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, with fares starting from Dh2,807 return. Frequent high speed trains between Zurich and Vienna make stops at St. Anton.
DSC Eagles 23 Dubai Hurricanes 36
Eagles
Tries: Bright, O’Driscoll
Cons: Carey 2
Pens: Carey 3
Hurricanes
Tries: Knight 2, Lewis, Finck, Powell, Perry
Cons: Powell 3
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Croatia v Hungary, Thursday, 10.45pm, UAE
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
