Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed has predicted a long and successful international career for Shaheen Afridi as the teenage pace bowler prepares to make his debut in the decisive third Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
A shoulder injury to bowler Mohammad Abbas during the second Test in Dubai – which Pakistan won to level the series – has presented an opportunity to Afridi, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise since making his domestic debut in September last year when his 8-39 were the best ever figures by a Pakistan bowler on first-class debut.
Afridi recently starred for Pakistan A when he took seven wickets in their win over England Lions in a four-day match last month. While he is yet to experience Test cricket, Afridi recently starred for the one-day team against New Zealand, claiming back-to-back four wicket hauls before being named man of the series, and Sarfraz believes the young bowler will make a seamless transition to the five-day format.
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“We wanted to make him part of the Test team,” Sarfraz said. “He bowled well against England Lions and that brought him in to the reckoning. He has pace and can reverse swing the ball.
“He is improving day by day and that’s why he is in the Pakistan team. He has talent and is a good boy, learns fast and understands. If he keeps himself in good shape, he can play for Pakistan for the next 10 to 12 years.”
After New Zealand earned an improbable four-run victory in the opening Test in Abu Dhabi, Pakistan responded emphatically in Dubai with an innings-and-16-runs win to level the series. Yasir Shah was instrumental to that victory, claiming 14 wickets, and Sarfraz is pleased by the spinner’s timely return to form.
“The way he’s bowling, he has got his rhythm back, and we hope that with the return of his form he will do his best to win this game for us. And as a team, we’ll do our best to win this Test and the series,” the Pakistan captain said.
“It was a good all-round performance by the whole team in the last game. It has built confidence in all three departments.”
Despite the momentum being with Pakistan, Sarfraz is wary of the threat posed by New Zealand and insisted his side will take nothing for granted.
“They have good bowlers and their middle order is strong. We will try to play good cricket because any mistake can make you lose this series,” he said.
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New Zealand captain Kane Williamson insisted his team can take some positives from the heavy loss in the second Test, particularly their battling display in the second innings, although he admitted dealing better with Yasir could prove key.
“Pakistan are a strong side and know these conditions well,” he said. “To go one up against them in the series after the first game and then it was obviously disappointing in the second game.
“It was certainly not the performance that we wanted to put out. There were some positives we would need to build from. Going into the last [Test] it’s really an exciting prospect and the guys really are looking forward to it.
“In the last game, it was about 45 minutes of madness against someone like Yasir Shah who came out as an outstanding performer and put us under pressure.
“And then to follow that up with a very good batting performance on a wearing pitch was a very good sign. It was a good experience for a number of guys to build on going in to the last match.
“Yasir clearly had a fantastic last game. He bowled a number of very nice deliveries and used the conditions really, really well.”
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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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RESULTS
Catchweight 63.5kg: Shakriyor Juraev (UZB) beat Bahez Khoshnaw (IRQ). Round 3 TKO (body kick)
Lightweight: Nart Abida (JOR) beat Moussa Salih (MAR). Round 1 by rear naked choke
Catchweight 79kg: Laid Zerhouni (ALG) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ). Round 1 TKO (punches)
Catchweight 58kg: Omar Al Hussaini (UAE) beat Mohamed Sahabdeen (SLA) Round 1 rear naked choke
Flyweight: Lina Fayyad (JOR) beat Sophia Haddouche (ALG) Round 2 TKO (ground and pound)
Catchweight 80kg: Badreddine Diani (MAR) beat Sofiane Aïssaoui (ALG) Round 2 TKO
Flyweight: Sabriye Sengul (TUR) beat Mona Ftouhi (TUN). Unanimous decision
Middleweight: Kher Khalifa Eshoushan (LIB) beat Essa Basem (JOR). Round 1 rear naked choke
Heavyweight: Mohamed Jumaa (SUD) beat Hassen Rahat (MAR). Round 1 TKO (ground and pound)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammad Ali Musalim (UAE beat Omar Emad (EGY). Round 1 triangle choke
Catchweight 62kg: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR). Round 2 KO
Catchweight 88kg: Mohamad Osseili (LEB) beat Samir Zaidi (COM). Unanimous decision
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
