SHARJAH // There are few expatriates who can boast about having lived in the UAE for four decades, and fewer still who can say they spent those years playing an integral role in the UAE’s cricket scene.
Mazhar Khan, the managing director of Sharjah Cricket Stadium, and long-standing administrator for the Emirates Cricket Board, is one such person.
Throughout his time in the UAE, Mazhar, born in Hyderabad, has been at the forefront of developing the local game.
And, when the Indian Premier League (IPL) arrives in the country on Wednesday, the expatriate will once again act as a driving force for ensuring the success and operation of the high-level competition.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium will host six of the 20 games being played in the UAE.
“I think this is very exciting, we never dreamed of having an IPL here and now that it has come it will be challenging, but a amazing event,” he said.
Tickets for the Sharjah games have been selling fast, with many local residents expected to attend.
“In Sharjah we have six games and the first game is sold out, which is good news. I’m sure, as the days pass by, whatever tickets are left will be taken by the fans. Sharjah, being in the centre of the city, people will often walk in and there is a lot of expat communities around this area.
“Sometimes, people just see the lights on and start walking towards the stadium.”
Witnessing some of the world’s elite play in the UAE will undoubtedly inspire the country’s younger generation to pick up the game, he said.
“Our juniors are looking forward to it. There are thousands of children at these sorts of events and now our cricket itself will move on another step because of watching these players play. “There is so much excitement and it is good for cricket in the UAE and Sharjah. By hosting this event, I’m sure there will be many more to follow.”
Despite his professionalism, there is a special place in his heart for his home side, the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
“It is a pleasure to have Hyderabad here. Of course, I would like them to do well and I am excited to see them. They have wonderful players and the best fast-bowler in the world – so let’s hope he rips apart the other teams,” Mazhar said, allowing himself a moment of bias.
The cricket fan said that with many Indians expected to attend the games, an element of rivalry will be certain, but only when the teams take to the field. “I think, since it is being played for the first time here, people are quietly supporting their teams right now, but when they go out on the ground you’ll see the difference.
“You’ll realise that they are supporting their home teams very quickly.”
In preparation for the IPL, the stadium, which was built in 1982, has renovated its VIP areas.
It has since played host to numerous Tests and One Day International games, though suffered a temporary setback in making a name for itself after India banned their side from playing there amidst match-fixing scandals in 2001.
However, the stadium’s popularity has been improving since 2010, when political unrest in Pakistan reignited interest in the field as a safe off-shore venue.
The stadium hopes its turn as IPL host will propel it back on to the international stage.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium will host its first game of the 2014 IPL season on Thursday, when the Delhi Daredevils meet the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
The Delhi Daredevils have won less than half of their meetings with the Royal Challengers, most recently losing to them by just four runs last May.
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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
RESULTS: 2018 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING - EUROPE
Albania 0 Italy 1
Finland 2 Turkey 2
Macedonia 4 Liechtenstein
Iceland 2 Kosovo 0
Israel 0 Spain 1
Moldova 0 Austria 1
Serbia 1 Georgia 0
Ukraine 0 Croatia 2
Wales 0 Ireland 1
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:
Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')
Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate
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.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
Business Insights
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Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.
Stat of the day - 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.
The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227 for four at the close.
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
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
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Results
4pm: Maiden (Dirt) Dh165,000 1,600m
Winner: Moshaher, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer).
4.35pm: Handicap (D) Dh165,000 2,200m
Winner: Heraldic, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5.10pm: Maiden (Turf) Dh165,000 1,600m
Winner: Rua Augusta, Harry Bentley, Ahmad bin Harmash.
5.45pm: Handicap (D) Dh190,000 1,200m
Winner: Private’s Cove, Mickael Barzalona, Sandeep Jadhav.
6.20pm: Handicap (T) Dh190,000 1,600m
Winner: Azmaam, Jim Crowley, Musabah Al Muhairi.
6.55pm: Handicap (D) Dh190,000 1,400m
Winner: Bochart, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
7.30pm: Handicap (T) Dh190,000 2,000m
Winner: Rio Tigre, Mickael Barzalona, Sandeep Jadhav.
MATCH INFO
Everton 2 Southampton 1
Everton: Walcott (15'), Richarlison (31' )
Southampton: Ings (54')
Man of the match: Theo Walcott (Everton)
Company profile
Company: Verity
Date started: May 2021
Founders: Kamal Al-Samarrai, Dina Shoman and Omar Al Sharif
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Size: four team members
Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000
Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
