Flintoff a catalyst for improvement



SHARJAH // Members of the UAE cricket fraternity are counting down the days until Andrew Flintoff can toss away his crutches and get out on the training field with the national team. The 31-year-old England all-rounder is set to assist the Emirates on an informal basis over the coming months while he stays in Dubai. Colin Wells, the national team coach and a former England all-rounder himself, predicted that Flintoff's presence in the country will lead to an "up-swell in interest" among anyone interested in cricket. And Naeemuddin Aslam, the UAE's wicket-keeper, added: "He is such a great player, even if we only learn five per cent from him, that will be good for us.

"It can only benefit us. It is good for us that the ICC's Global Cricket Academy has been set up over here because it gives us an opportunity to learn from the best, people who have played Test cricket. "We can only dream of playing Test cricket and will probably never realise that dream, but to learn from people like Rod Marsh, Mudassar Nazar and Freddie Flintoff himself, you can't ask for anything more than that."

Flintoff's agent revealed this week that the all-rounder is considering settling in Dubai, where he is currently undergoing rehabilitation after knee surgery. If he was resident for four years in the country he would qualify to represent the UAE, as per the ICC's regulations, as long as he did not play for England again during that period. Aslam joked: "He could play for us if he was 45, no worries! Even finding him playing local cricket for a team would be brilliant.

"Let's hope he does his qualifying period and plays for the UAE. We would be glad to have him in our Arab Udupi team - I would even step down and give him my place, any day." pradley@thenational.ae The UAE coach Wells gives his perspective, s10

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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DMZ facts
  • The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
  • It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
  • The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
  • It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
  • Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
  • Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
  • Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012. 
  • Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.
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The specs

  Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now

'Nightmare Alley'

Director:Guillermo del Toro

Stars:Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara

Rating: 3/5

Getting there

The flights

Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.

The stay

Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net 

Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama

Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com

Three tips from La Perle's performers

1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.

2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.

3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.


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