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Shepherd and Pooran power MI Emirates past Knight Riders

Published

1 year ago

January 21, 2025

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The MI Emirates produced a clinical display with the bat and the ball, handing the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders a 28-run defeat at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Tuesday. The MI Emirates had the likes of Romario Shepherd and Nicholas Pooran to thank as they played a crucial part in helping their side get to within two points of the table toppers. The MI Emirates’ bowlers were in fine form on the night, with four of them picking a wicket each, while Alzarri Joseph and Shepherd bagged two each to derail the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders’ chase.

Put into bat first, the MI Emirates started off well, with openers Kusal Perera and Muhammad Waseem (38) put a fine stand at the top. After the duo put on a 42-run stand, the Sri Lankan Perera was the first to depart for 23, just before the end of the powerplay. In walked Tom Banton, and along with Waseem ensured the MI Emirates kept the scoreboard ticking.

Halfway into the innings, Banton was dismissed for nine, and soon after Waseem followed suit for 38. Skipper Nicholas Pooran was joined by Kieron Pollard, but the veteran right-hander found it tough to get going, and was eventually knocked over by Ali Khan for five. At this point, the score read 102/4, with just over 6 overs to go.

Dan Mousley was the next to fall for six, after which Romario Shepherd joined his captain for the final phase of the innings. Pooran, who was striking it cleanly, was closing in on his half-century before Jason Holder had his number after a well-made 49. That put the focus on Shepherd in the final few overs. The big-hitting right-hander then went through the gears and smashed three maximums along with four boundaries, to finish with an unbeaten 38 from 13 deliveries. The MI Emirates, who had slowed down for a few overs in the middle, eventually posted 186/6.

The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders got off to a quick start, as openers Kyle Mayers and Andries Gous took the attack to the MI Emirates bowlers. Mayers, who smashed three sixes, scored 22 off 14 deliveries, before Dan Mousley ran him out with a fine a piece of fielding. That ended a 39-run stand in the fourth over, after which the MI Emirates took control.

Akeal Hosein dismissed Joe Clarke for three, after which Romario Shepherd accounted for Michael-Kyle Pepper for five and Alishan Sharafu for four. At the end of an action-packed Powerplay, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders were 56/4.

Waqar Salamkheil cleaned up Laurie Evans for seven, and Zahoor Khan then had Gous caught out in the deep for 34, which put further pressure on the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. That brought Sunil Narine and Andre Russell to the middle, and the big-hitting batters put on a half-century stand, raising hopes of a comeback. However, in the 18th over, Narine was caught at cover for 13, and then Fazalhaq Farooqi cleaned up David Willey in the 19th. Russell, who remained unbeaten on 37 from 23 deliveries could not take his side over the line as the MI Emirates came away with a comfortable win on the night.

Player of the match Romario Shepherd said, “It feels good, and we knew how important this game was. I was relaxed because Nicholas Pooran was there and I was just trying to get to the last over and see what I could get. Whenever you do well in one department it gives you confidence.”

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders captain Sunil Narine said, “We were going good till the 18th over, but we had to have a fielder in for the slow over-rate and Shepherd is a powerful player. And we lost a cluster of wickets, but still played good cricket, and we started off good. We need to get on top of the key moments.”

Brief Scores

MI Emirates beat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 28 runs

MI Emirates 186/6 in 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 49, Romario Shepherd 38 not out, Muhammad Waseem 38, Jason Holder 2 for 38, Ali Khan 2 for 58)

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 158/9 in 20 overs (Andre Russell 37 not out, Andries Gous 34, Romario Shepherd 2/14, Alzarri Joseph 2/33, Waqar Salamkheil 1/13)

Player of the Match: Romario Shepherd

News

Want a free taxi ride in Dubai? Here’s how to book the new autonomous cab

Published

56 mins ago

July 15, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Dubai residents can now experience the future of transport with free autonomous taxi rides in parts of Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has started public operations of its driverless taxi service in partnership with Apollo Go and autonomous driving technology company WeRide.

Passengers can book the vehicles through the Uber or Apollo Go mobile apps at no cost during the current trial phase.

Announcing the launch on social media, the RTA said: “Your next ride could be autonomous, and it’s currently free.”

The rollout follows the introduction of Dubai’s commercial autonomous taxi programme earlier this year, which began with a fleet of 100 driverless vehicles. The fleet is expected to expand gradually as demand grows.

The initiative forms part of the Dubai Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to increase the adoption of autonomous transport and reinforce the emirate’s position as a global leader in smart mobility.

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Sharjah new ticketless parking rules: How to avoid fines in Aljada

Published

1 hour ago

July 15, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Drivers visiting Sharjah’s Aljada will now pay for parking in selected areas after a new smart parking system went live on July 15.

Launched by Parkin in partnership with Arada, the system uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology, allowing motorists to enter and exit without tickets or barriers. Parking fees are paid digitally through Parkin’s payment channels.

Where is paid parking available?

The new system covers selected parking locations across Aljada, including:

On-street parking along East Boulevard
Designated off-street parking lots
Retail parking at The Boulevard, Tiraz, and Misk

How much does parking cost?

Parking charges vary depending on where you park:

East Boulevard (On-street parking)

Dh6.30 per hour (including VAT)
Operates 24 hours a day

Off-street parking

Dh4.20 per hour (including VAT)
Charged from 8am to midnight

Retail parking

Visitors parking at The Boulevard, Tiraz and Misk receive:

First two hours free
Dh10 per hour after the free period

What about residents?

Residents will continue using their allocated parking spaces, while any additional parking will be charged under the new tariff. Seasonal subscriptions will also be available for eligible parking areas.

The rollout marks Parkin’s first operation in Sharjah, expanding beyond Dubai as the company grows its smart parking network.

The ticketless system is designed to improve parking availability and traffic flow across Aljada, one of Sharjah’s fastest-growing mixed-use destinations, which attracts residents, students, workers and visitors throughout the day.

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Visiting Dubai’s City Walk? Here’s What you need to know about the new ticketless parking

Published

1 day ago

July 14, 2026

Michael Gomes

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If you’ve ever fumbled for a parking ticket while leaving City Walk or queued at a payment machine, those days are over.

Dubai’s popular lifestyle destination has rolled out a barrierless, ticketless parking system, allowing motorists to drive in and out without collecting a ticket or stopping to pay before exiting.

The new system, introduced by Parkin, uses automatic number plate recognition technology to record when vehicles enter and leave the parking facility, making the entire process faster and more convenient.

How the new parking system works

Instead of paper tickets and exit barriers, cameras identify your vehicle when you enter and exit City Walk.

Parking fees are calculated automatically based on the length of your stay.

If you have a Parkin account, the fee is deducted automatically. Visitors without an account, or those with insufficient balance, will receive a payment link to complete the transaction digitally.

The move is part of Dubai’s wider shift towards smart mobility and cashless services.

Parking charges at City Walk

Visitors can still enjoy one hour of free parking at City Walk.

After the complimentary period, parking is charged at:

Dh5 per hour, or part of an hour.

For visitors heading to The Boulevard, a different tariff applies.

The first 30 minutes are free, after which parking costs Dh20 per hour. According to City Walk, these charges are automatically deducted through the visitor’s Salik account.

How to get free parking

Visitors spending Dh50 or more at participating outlets can receive up to three hours of complimentary parking.

To claim the benefit, shoppers and diners must validate their parking at the participating retailer before leaving.

Parking validation is also available for eligible visitors at attractions including Roxy Cinemas, The Green Planet and selected participating outlets.

Part of a growing smart parking network

City Walk is the latest destination to embrace ticketless parking as Dubai continues expanding digital payment solutions across the city.

Earlier, Parkin announced a five-year agreement with Al Ghurair Centre to introduce a similar smart parking system.

Under that arrangement, visitors receive three hours of complimentary parking before charges apply from Monday to Saturday, while parking remains free on Sundays and public holidays.

With barrierless parking now becoming more common across Dubai, motorists can expect quicker entry and exit, fewer queues and a smoother parking experience, without the hassle of paper tickets.