Sports

India v Pakistan winner at Asia Cup: Akram, Sharma give their picks

Published

3 years ago

September 2, 2023

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This is the year of the ICC Cricket World Cup in the 50-over format, which will be held in India. The Asia Cup 2023 is a great dress rehearsal especially for the regional powerhouses, India and Pakistan, and more so it is being held in the subcontinental conditions of the latter for a bit as original hosts and replacement venue Sri Lanka.

The two neighbours India and Pakistan meet on Saturday in an ODI for the first time since 2019, a long way, and adds to the euphoria building around it despite experts in Dubai trying to play it down.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram has tried to mask his gut feeling by pointing to the previous edition of the Asia Cup, held in the UAE, while appearing as a brand ambassador for the title sponsors Super 11 Fantasy League. India beat Pakistan, but the latter eventually reached the final (against Sri Lanka) while India did not in a shock result for the Men in Blue.

At another event, veteran commentator Charu Sharma, said “the brain says Pakistan, but the heart beats for India”, but both tried to subdue their enthusiasm in addressing other teams in the same breath. And latest word coming from Pallekele in Sri Lanka is that the rain clouds will also be out to dampen the length of cricket, if not a dreaded washout.

New personal feat for Charu Sharma

Charu Sharma and Ajay Sethi, owner of Fun Asia Network. Picture supplied

Among the pioneering voices behind Indian cricket, Sharma has been commentating since the early 1980s in a career which he admitted “was all about being at the right place at the right time.” And now he was excited and yet observed the irony of it that in his four decades of commentary, he has not checked off radio from his checklist. That has now changed with him being the star name behind Fun Asia Network and its Talk and Big 106.2 FM channels.

Speaking to Headline.ae, Sharma dipped into his years of experience to state how he is going to handle the new radio chapter in the era of TV and its rapid introduction of technology. “People still want to know the story of every ball in radio. So I think the focus still remains on every single ball … the backstories, statistics, etc are all secondary. Accuracy and action is the key.”

Sharma rubbished the notion that teams are fielding second-string sides to protect the main players before the all-important CWC next month. “The World Cup is a different tournament. And the minute you go into any one event or tournament, you want to win that. No one is using the Asia Cup as a tool for preparation for the World Cup. It has a lot of prominence. It’s not a junk tournament.

“We talked about the favurites, but the tournament standard is very high. If you put together India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and to some extent Afghanistan, you’re talking about a set of nations who can beat anyone on any given day.”

Wasim Akram at the unveiling of the title sponsors for the Asia Cup in Dubai.

Akram’s vote goes to …

Meanwhile, Wasim Akram was adept at masking where his money is when asked to choose a winner between India and Pakistan.

“Though the Pakistani team is top in ranking nowadays, I want to remind you that Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup last time, while India couldn’t even qualify for the finals. The India-Pakistan game is very important, but you can’t rule out other teams like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh; even Afghanistan has a surprise element,” Akram said.

Staff Reporter

Sports

Abu Dhabi to host first EuroLeague Basketball SuperCup: How to get tickets from Dh572

Published

3 days ago

August 24, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Abu Dhabi is set to make basketball history this September as it hosts the first-ever EuroLeague Basketball SuperCup, bringing four of Europe’s top clubs together for a two-day showdown at Etihad Arena.

Taking place on September 18 and 19, 2026, the inaugural tournament will feature Real Madrid, Olympiacos Piraeus, Fenerbahce Tarfin Istanbul and Dubai Basketball in a Final Four-style competition.

The event is being delivered through a partnership between the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Euroleague Basketball, adding another major international sporting event to the capital’s growing calendar.

Two days, four teams and one new trophy

The action gets underway on Friday, September 18, with two semi-finals.

6pm: Olympiacos Piraeus vs Fenerbahce Tarfin Istanbul
9pm: Dubai Basketball vs Real Madrid

The winners will advance to Saturday night’s championship game, while the losing teams will meet earlier in the day for the third-place match.

On Saturday, September 19:

6pm: Third-place game
9pm: Inaugural EuroLeague Basketball SuperCup Final

The winner will make history as the first team to lift the new trophy.

Abu Dhabi adds another major basketball event

The tournament builds on Abu Dhabi’s growing reputation as a destination for elite basketball. The capital has hosted a number of major basketball showcases in recent years, helping bring some of the sport’s biggest clubs and stars to UAE audiences.

The new SuperCup will also give fans the chance to see Dubai Basketball compete against some of the biggest names in European club basketball, including Real Madrid.

DCT Abu Dhabi said the event forms part of the emirate’s wider strategy to expand its international sporting calendar while attracting visitors and creating opportunities for local businesses and communities.

Euroleague Basketball President Dejan Bodiroga described the competition as a new chapter for European club basketball, while CEO Chus Bueno said Abu Dhabi would provide fans with an opportunity to experience the sport at its highest level.

Tickets

Full-package tickets are already available through Etihad Arena, while single-day tickets are scheduled to go on sale on August 31.

EuroLeague SuperCup Prices

Ticket category	Price
Baseline Upper Bowl 2	Dh572
Baseline Upper Bowl 1	Dh668
Central Lower Bowl 2	Dh1,338
Central Lower Bowl 1	Dh1,434
Hollywood 2 Hospitality	Dh9,188
First-row Bench	Dh7,751
First-row Courtside	Dh10,911

Event details

Where: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: September 18–19, 2026
Teams: Real Madrid, Olympiacos Piraeus, Fenerbahce Tarfin Istanbul, Dubai Basketball
For tickets, go to www.etihadarena.ae

News

Dubai robotics team earns global recognition at elite US competitions

Published

1 month ago

July 27, 2026

Michael Gomes

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A Dubai-based student robotics team has put the UAE on the global STEM map after securing a major award at one of the world’s leading robotics competitions and earning an invitation to an elite international event in the US.

Team UFORCE, representing Unique World Robotics (UWR), finished third in the prestigious Inspire Award category at the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Michiana Premier Event, held in Indiana from June 18 to 21.

The Inspire Award is FTC’s highest judged honour, recognising excellence in robot design, engineering, programming, innovation, teamwork and community impact. Team UFORCE competed against 96 top robotics teams from around the world.

Invited to exclusive global event

Following its strong performance, Team UFORCE also competed at the Multinational Tech Invitational (MTI) in Maryland, an invitation-only competition featuring just 44 of the world’s best FTC teams selected from more than 11,000 active teams globally.

Showcasing UAE STEM talent

The 16-member team includes students from schools across Dubai and Sharjah, highlighting the UAE’s growing talent in robotics and engineering.

“This achievement reflects the dedication, innovation and perseverance of our students and mentors,” said Bansan Thomas George, founder of Unique World Robotics.

Head coach Mohammed Mukhtar said competing on global platforms demonstrates the ability of young innovators from the UAE to excel internationally.

Team captain Aarnav Bhargava described the competitions as a valuable opportunity to develop technical skills, teamwork and confidence while competing against some of the world’s best robotics teams.

About FIRST Tech Challenge

FIRST Tech Challenge is one of the world’s largest youth robotics programmes and is supported by organisations including Google, Amazon and NASA.

The programme also offers students access to scholarships, mentorship opportunities and pathways to leading universities and STEM institutions.

The achievement also reflects the growing impact of firstrobotics.ae, a UAE volunteer-led robotics community that supports students interested in robotics, artificial intelligence and STEM education.

Sports

DP World ILT20 is opening doors for local cricket talent, says UAE Fast Bowler Muhammad Rohid

Published

1 month ago

July 22, 2026

Michael Gomes

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For UAE fast bowler Muhammad Rohid, being among the highest-valued local players at the DP World ILT20’s first-ever player auction was more than a career milestone, it was proof that homegrown cricketers now have a genuine pathway to the professional game.

The left-arm pacer was signed by MI Emirates for $140,000 ahead of Season 4, making him the fifth-highest-priced UAE player in the historic auction. Rohid believes the league is changing the future of cricket in the Emirates by giving young players a platform to showcase their talent alongside some of the biggest names in the sport.

“The biggest thing the DP World ILT20 has done is create a clear pathway for UAE players,” Rohid said. “Young cricketers can now see that if they perform well, opportunities will come, whether that’s with a franchise or the national team.”

The 24-year-old credits the tournament with helping him develop both on and off the field. He recalled one of his standout moments from

Season 4, when he was told he would be playing in Qualifier 2 just 10 minutes before the toss. Despite the late call-up, Rohid delivered figures of 2 for 19, dismissing Brandon McMullen and Liam Livingstone during a match-winning spell.

“The biggest lesson I learned was to always stay ready because opportunities can come at any moment,” he said. “The environment taught me to trust my preparation, stay calm under pressure and back my abilities.”

Rohid also highlighted the value of sharing a dressing room with international stars such as Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Shakib Al Hasan.

“Watching how they prepare, train and handle pressure has been a huge learning experience. They were always willing to share advice, and those conversations helped me become a better player.”

The pacer has since become a regular member of the UAE national team, featuring in ODIs and T20 Internationals, while also earning selection for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where he represented the UAE against New Zealand.

Looking ahead, Rohid says his focus remains on improving his game and becoming a bowler his captain can rely on in every situation.

“I want to keep getting better every season and contribute more for both the UAE and MI Emirates. I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve received and hope to make the most of them.”

Season 5 of the DP World ILT20 is scheduled to take place in November and December 2026.