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Eurasia T20I Cup Announced in Dubai: A New Era for Associate Nations in Cricket dawns

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The inaugural Eurasia T20I Cup, a landmark new cricket tournament featuring eight ICC associate member nations from Europe and Asia, has been officially announced. This first-of-its-kind tournament will bring together four European teams and four Asian teams annually to compete for top honors in the associate cricketing world.

The inaugural edition, set to take place in Dubai from January 1 to 18,2025, will see Malta, Sweden, Norway and Romania carry the mantle for Europe while Asia will be represented by Indonesia, Myanmar and two more countries that will be announced next month’s trophy unveiling ceremony in Dubai.

Former captain of the Cambodian cricket team and director of the 32nd South East Asian (SEA) Games Manish Sharma, one of the brains behind the inaugural Eurasia T20I, said: “This tournament represents a new chapter in international cricket, particularly for associate nations, giving teams like Malta, Sweden, and Myanmar a platform to compete, grow, and build cricketing excellence. We believe this event will not only increase visibility for these nations but also inspire a new generation of cricketers across Europe and Asia.”

Heralding a new future for Associate nations in international cricket

The planned eight-nation annual tournament will showcase some of the most promising cricket talent from these regions, giving associate nations the opportunity to compete on a global stage and further their development in the sport. The competition is set to become an annual event, with the goal of elevating the standard of cricket across both continents. “Through this tournament, we aim to not only promote cricket in emerging regions, providing associate member nations the chance to gain international experience and recognition but also create a competitive environment that will help develop the skills and abilities of players from lesser-known cricketing nations,” added Sharma, who is also the board member of the Cambodia Cricket Federation. “This will also help us build new partnerships between European and Asian cricketing boards, fostering collaboration and growth across borders.”

“The launch of the Eurasia T20I Cup signals the growing influence of associate nations in the global cricketing landscape,” said Yousuf Gilani of Cricket Norway. “By offering teams like us a regular platform to compete, the tournament will play a pivotal role in expanding the sport’s reach and supporting the development of cricketing talent worldwide.” At 39, Norway are currently the highest ranked T20I men’s team in the tournament.

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Book flights with cryptocurrency: Emirates to launch digital payments in 2026

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Good news for tech-savvy travellers, starting next year, Emirates Airline will let passengers pay for their flight tickets using cryptocurrency.

The Dubai-based carrier has signed a preliminary deal with global platform Crypto.com, paving the way for crypto payments via Crypto.com Pay. This move will offer a new level of flexibility and convenience for passengers booking flights on one of the world’s leading airlines.

The digital payment feature is expected to launch in 2026 and will be especially appealing to younger, digital-first travellers who prefer using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other supported tokens.

Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates, said the move reflects the airline’s goal of staying ahead of evolving customer needs. “This partnership allows us to meet the expectations of a new generation of travellers who want more control and choice in how they manage their journeys,” he said.

Beyond just flight bookings, Emirates and Crypto.com also plan to collaborate on marketing initiatives, potentially offering crypto-based travel promotions or rewards in the future.

For travellers flying in and out of Dubai, this is part of a broader shift. Increasingly, everything from hotels to real estate is now embracing digital currency payments.

What it means for travellers:

  • Book Emirates flights using supported cryptocurrencies
  • Skip currency conversion hassles when travelling internationally
  • Enjoy smoother digital-first travel experiences
  • Be part of Dubai’s growing blockchain and crypto-powered ecosystem

With this new payment option on the horizon, planning your next trip might soon be just a few crypto clicks away.

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Star power boosts Super60 with Guptill, Parnell, Harbhajan

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It was a landmark day for cricket in the USA as the teams assembled an exciting mix of international stars and emerging talents during the draft for the inaugural Super60 USA Tournament, held on Friday with prominent names like Martin Guptill, Wayne Parnell, Varun Aaron and Lendl Simmons making the headlines.

Teams had already locked in eight players as part of their pre-signings. In the draft, they were allowed to choose between seven to 10 more players.

The LA Strikers had already secured big names like Aaron Finch, Isuru Udana, and Ben Dunk in their pre-signings. During the draft, they further strengthened their lineup by picking Gurkeerat Mann, a dynamic all-rounder known for his decent strike rate and handy off-spin. The franchise also brought in experienced wicketkeeper-batter Naman Ojha and seasoned medium-pacer Parvinder Awana, clearly aiming to build a well-rounded squad with depth in every department.

Morrisville Fighters put together a strong core by signing two of India’s finest bowlers — Harbhajan Singh and Munaf Patel. They further added fire power in the batting department with the signing of Shaun Marsh. The franchise continued to build on that solid base with the additions of powerful all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme, pacer Sheldon Cottrell, and experienced campaigner Faiz Fazal.

Rebel Warriors made a statement during the draft after they signed Martin Guptill and Lendl Simmons one after the other. The two batters are known for their aggressive and will play a massive role in providing a brisk start to the team. They also have Saurabh Tiwary whom they signed during the pre-signings to add more aggression in the batting department while the experience of Mitchell Johnson with the ball will be the key for Rebel’s success.

Chicago Players who already had legends in Suresh Raina and Jacques Kallis in their line up got Wayne Parnell, Varun Aaron and Devendra Bishoo to add more fuel to their bowling unit.

Detroit Falcons went into the draft with a clear game plan — to stack their squad with quality all-rounders. With Shakib Al Hasan already in the lineup, they added Mossaddek Hossain and Ariful Haque, two reliable performers with solid domestic records.

With Parthiv Patel, Chris Lynn, and Ravi Bopara in their batting lineup, the Washington Tigers have plenty of experience and firepower up top. On the bowling side, they’ll be counting on Abhimanyu Mithun, Dan Christian, and Shahbaz Nadeem to do the job with the ball and keep the opposition in check.

LA Strikers:

Pre-Signing- Aaron Finch (Icon), Isuru Udana (Platinum), Ben Dunk (Cat A), Chadwick Walton (Cat B), Ashley Nurse (Cat B), Anureet Singh (Cat C), Chirag Gandhi (Cat D), Jesal Karia (Cat C)

Draft- Gurkeerat Mann (Cat B), Naman Ojha ( Cat B), Jaskaran Malhotra (Cat C), Parvinder Awana (Cat C), Manan Sharma (Cat D), Nisarg Patel (Cat D), Kashyap Prajapati (Cat D)

Morrisville Fighters:

Pre-Signing- Harbhajan Singh (Icon), Shaun Marsh (Platinum), Munaf Patel (Cat A), Angelo Perera (Cat B), Bipul Sharma (Cat B), Chamara Kapugedera (Cat C), Danushka Gunathilaka (Cat C), Kristopher Ramsaran (Cat D)

Draft- Colin de Grandhomme (Cat B), Sheldon Cottrell (Cat B), Jerome Taylor (Cat C), Faiz Fazal (Cat C), Suboth Bhati (Cat D), Rahul Yadav (Cat D), Elmore Hutchinson (Cat D)

Rebel Warriors:

Pre Signing- Thisara Perera (Icon), Mitchell Johnson (Platinum), Saurabh Tiwary (Cat A), Miguel Cummins (Cat B), Kennar Lewis (Cat B) , Samit Patel (Cat C), Oshane Thomas (Cat C), Amila Aponso (Cat D)

Draft- Martin Guptill (Cat B), Lendl Simmons, (Cat B), Chaturanga de Silva (Cat B), Jonathan Carter (Cat C), Jonathan Foo (Cat D),  Andre McCarthy (Cat D), Trevon Griffith (Cat D)

The Chicago Players:

Pre-Signing- Suresh Raina (Icon), Jacques Kallis (Platinum), Shehan Jayasuriya (Cat A), Manpreet Gony (Cat B), Kesrick Williams (Cat B), Dilhara Fernando (Cat C), Jon-Russ Jaggesar (Cat C), Navin Stewart (Cat D)

Draft- Wayne Parnell (Cat B), Varun Aaron (Cat B), Devendra Bishoo (Cat C), Siddharth Trivedi (Cat C), William Perkins (Cat D), Pawan Suyal (Cat D), Vikas Tokas (Cat D)

Detroit Falcons:

Pre-Signing- Shakib Al Hasan (ICON), Cameron Delport (Platinum), Rishi Dhawan (Cat A), Nasir Hussain (Cat B), Sharad Lumba (Cat B), Nasir Hussain (Cat B), Malinda Pushpakumara (Cat C), Anthony Bramble (Cat D)

Draft- Mossaddek Hossain (Cat B), Enamul Haque Jr (Cat B), Ariful Haque (Cat C), Kamrul Islam Rabbi (Cat C), Rony Talukdar (Cat D), Al-Amin Hossain (Cat D), Mohammad Nihaduzzaman (Cat D)

Washington Tigers:

Pre-Signing- Parthiv Patel (Platinum), Chris Lynn (Cat A), Ravi Bopara (Cat B), Andrew Tye (Cat B), Rohan Mustafa (Cat C), Abhimanyu Mithun (Cat C), Zahoor Khan (Cat D)

Draft- Dan Christian (Cat B), Shahbaz Nadeem (Cat B), Phil Mustard (Cat B), Jeevan Mendis (Cat C), Sheldon Jackson (Cat D), George Worker (Cat D), Aakarshit Gomel (Cat D)

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Royaloak launches in UAE bringing Indian design excellence to gulf

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Royaloak Furniture, one of India’s largest organised furniture retail chains, has announced its entry into the UAE market as part of a broader international expansion strategy. With an operational history spanning over 15 years and a customer base exceeding 5 million, the brand has opened three stores in the UAE—located in RAK Mall (Ras Al Khaimah), Lulu Mall (Fujairah), and Silicon Central Mall (Dubai)—each spanning nearly 20,000 square feet.

The move comes at a time when the UAE’s furniture and home décor industry is witnessing steady growth, driven by a combination of increased real estate development, rising urbanisation, and a growing population of design-conscious consumers. According to industry estimates, the UAE furniture market was valued at approximately USD 5.1 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 5.4 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 4.18%.

Royaloak’s entry adds momentum to the region’s expanding mid-to-premium furniture segment. The brand is known for its “Country Collection” that showcases curated pieces inspired by American, Italian, and Malaysian designs. The company sources products from manufacturing hubs across Asia and Europe, aiming to balance aesthetic appeal with functional quality.

“Our UAE expansion is aligned with market demand and retail opportunity,” said Mathan Subramaniam, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Royaloak. “What sets us apart is a vertically integrated model—from sourcing to distribution—which ensures both product consistency and affordability. With our dedicated warehouse in the UAE, we are equipped to provide fast, reliable delivery and a localised shopping experience.”

The stores are designed to cater to a wide demographic—offering furniture for living rooms, bedrooms, offices, dining areas, and outdoor spaces, in addition to home décor and mattresses. Each outlet is supported by Arabic-speaking staff to ensure culturally attuned customer service.

In tandem with its retail footprint, Royaloak has launched a dedicated UAE e-commerce platform, while also partnering with Amazon UAE and Noon to strengthen its omnichannel presence. The brand’s UAE entry is not just an expansion strategy but also a commitment to job creation and customer-centric innovation in one of the Middle East’s most competitive retail landscapes. The company plans further expansion across the Emirates in the coming year

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