The Pakistan Test squad announced for the upcoming tour to New Zealand had one surprising omission: Mohammad Yousuf, the experienced batsman.
Yousuf's exclusion, apparently for lack of fitness, is unwarranted.
The fitness excuse seems somewhat contrived given there is more than ample time for Yousuf to prove he is in good shape before the New Zealand tour commences on January 7.
The Pakistan squad was announced on November 30 so Yousuf had five weeks to fully recover from a minor groin injury.
In the past, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has provisionally selected even fringe players for tours subject to them clearing fitness tests, so it is bizarre that a similar approach was not applied to a player with Yousuf's record.
The only logical explanation would be that the PCB has yet again decided to close the curtains on an illustrious career. Is this finally the end of the road for Yousuf?
It is difficult to fathom the PCB's logic, or what passes for it, at the best of times, but one suspects that the PCB feels, quite erroneously, that Yousuf has been involved in one controversy too many.
It is sad if they have taken this decision as Yousuf is one of the few recent Pakistan players whose honesty and integrity on the field is above reproach and who, along with Younus Khan, should be the fulcrum of a "clean" and "controversy-free" Pakistan Test side for the next 12 months.
That Yousuf still has something to contribute to the Pakistan team should not be in doubt. His mere inclusion in the squad during this summer's tour to England boosted the confidence of Pakistan batsmen and the younger players such as Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq benefited enormously from his calming influence at the crease and in the dressing room.
His last international outing before this summer was in the ill-fated tours to New Zealand and Australia a year ago, low-scoring encounters where Yousuf often appeared to be the best batsman from either side. He was timing and hitting the ball beautifully, and with a bit more luck, would have scored much more heavily than he did.
So citing a lack of form as a reason to axe Yousuf simply does not wash. Yousuf is experienced in the difficult batting conditions in New Zealand, and averages an impressive 55 in his previous eight Tests there.
It would be a travesty if Yousuf's remarkable career, in which he achieved so much for his team and country, ends in such inglorious circumstances. There have been some brilliant highs over the last 12 years, where Yousuf's class saved the frail Pakistan batting line-up time and time again.
The numbers tell their own story: 7,530 runs in 90 Tests, at a hugely impressive average of 52.29, and 9,720 one-day international runs at an average of 41.71.
Yousuf has scored those runs in style and his batting has always been a treat for connoisseurs. The silken touch, the wonderful timing, and the supple wrists made him one of the most watchable of modern-day batsmen.
Coming from a poverty-stricken background and a minority community, Yousuf has faced formidable obstacles all his life.
Despite his phenomenal ability, he only began his first-class career at the relatively ripe old age (in Pakistani context) of 22, as earning money to feed his family was more of a priority than participating at cricket trials and camps.
He had neither the financial means nor the family connections that are often needed by young cricketers in Pakistan; just an abundance of talent, and it was talent alone that eventually led to a belated international debut when he was almost.
He has not looked back since, scoring mountains of runs in all conditions and against all manner of opposition.
Some of his best knocks were scored when the going was tough; back to back centuries against a rampaging West Indian attack spearheaded by Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh on their home turf in 2000; fighting knocks facing Australia's Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne in 1999 and in 2004; match-winning centuries and double centuries against England's high-quality, Ashes winning pace attack of Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff in 2005 and in 2006; and match winning contributions in difficult conditions in New Zealand in 2003, in Zimbabwe and in India.
Like most modern-day Pakistan greats, Yousuf's career has not been without controversy. There is the well-known defection to the Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2007, but Yousuf was hardly the only player who played in the ICL.
His decision to play in the ICL was an understandable reaction to the PCB's bizarre and politically motivated refusal to select him for the Pakistan team, despite having scored more runs in a calendar year than any other batsmen in cricket's 130 year history. Instead of lauding such a remarkable talent and building a team around him, the PCB chose to ban him for his ICL defection, and Pakistan cricket lost two of Yousuf's best years as a batsman.
Things have been difficult for him since his return from the ICL ban, exacerbated by the PCB's mindless and inept banning of the best Pakistan players, and employing a strategy inspired by a game of musical chairs to award the Test captaincy.
PCB's poor man management is ultimately to blame for Yousuf's poor returns of late; both Younus and Yousuf should have been the linchpins of the team.
What next then for Yousuf's rags to riches story? He has been a remarkable servant of Pakistan cricket and while a way back into the side appears to be blocked, Yousuf has done it before, most remarkably at the outset of his career.
Many would have considered the chances then to be insurmountable, but Yousuf's determination, desire and talent have brought him thus far; they may yet take him further.
sports@thenational.ae
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director: Ron Howard
2/5
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
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.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Crazy Rich Asians
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan
Four stars
States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
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Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
More on Quran memorisation:
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
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How to become a Boglehead
Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.
• Spend less than you earn and save the rest. You can do this by earning more, or being frugal. Better still, do both.
• Invest early, invest often. It takes time to grow your wealth on the stock market. The sooner you begin, the better.
• Choose the right level of risk. Don't gamble by investing in get-rich-quick schemes or high-risk plays. Don't play it too safe, either, by leaving long-term savings in cash.
• Diversify. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket. Spread your money between different companies, sectors, markets and asset classes such as bonds and property.
• Keep charges low. The biggest drag on investment performance is all the charges you pay to advisers and active fund managers.
• Keep it simple. Complexity is your enemy. You can build a balanced, diversified portfolio with just a handful of ETFs.
• Forget timing the market. Nobody knows where share prices will go next, so don't try to second-guess them.
• Stick with it. Do not sell up in a market crash. Use the opportunity to invest more at the lower price.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The biog
Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.
Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.
Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.
Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.
Indian origin executives leading top technology firms
Sundar Pichai
Chief executive, Google and Alphabet
Satya Nadella
Chief executive, Microsoft
Ajaypal Singh Banga
President and chief executive, Mastercard
Shantanu Narayen
Chief executive, chairman, and president, Adobe
Indra Nooyi
Board of directors, Amazon and former chief executive, PepsiCo
Venom
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
Rating: 1.5/5
