The UAE enjoyed a substantial boost as they count down to next year’s World Cup after Saqib Ali announced his return to form in the win over Papua New Guinea on Thursday.
The Abu Dhabi-based batsman has been a pillar of the national team’s batting line up for the past decade.
However, his contribution to the cause in recent years has been inhibited by chronic back problems.
Before the current tour of western Australia, he had been out of the squad for nearly a year.
Even then, he had only been back for a couple of months after a further year out following surgery on his back.
If the UAE are to be competitive at the World Cup in six months time, the 36-year-old batsman will need to play a full part.
As such, his return to form in the seven-wicket win over PNG in Darwin was the most positive news to emerge from the tour so far.
Saqib, who captained the UAE the last time they played against major Test opposition, at the 2008 Asia Cup in his native Pakistan, made an undefeated 73.
In truth, the national team cantered to their win over a PNG side who also enjoy full one-day international status and play regular cricket in Australia.
The win, which was the UAE’s second in two days since flying north from Perth, was earned as the national team chased 268 for the loss of just three wickets.
Saqib top scored, while Amjad Ali (51) and Swapnil Patil (72 not out) also made half-centuries.
So easy was it for the UAE, their two most reliable batsmen, Khurram Khan and Shaiman Anwar did not even have to take to the crease.
In a further boost to the national team, Nasir Aziz took three wickets in a parsimonious 10-over stint with the ball.
Nasir is also making a return to the side, having been ruled out of the game earlier this years while his suspect bowling action was analysed.
He is now prohibited from bowling the doosra which brought him so much success in the past, but he is confident he can thrive having developed two new variations in the meantime.
pradley@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJune%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Alnamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMicrofinance%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFamily%20offices%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
Jawan
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAtlee%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shah%20Rukh%20Khan%2C%20Nayanthara%2C%20Vijay%20Sethupathi%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5