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T10 format is helping other forms of cricket become better, says Sikandar Raza

Published

3 years ago

October 27, 2023

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For Pakistan-born Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza, the highly-anticipated seventh edition of Abu Dhabi T10 is another chance to play his favourite sport at his ‘home away from home’. Raza has been a part of ‘Cricket’s Fastest Format’ for the past few years and has garnered massive popularity among local fans. Last season, the right-handed batter was also named the Captain of the Chennai Braves, a position he has retained for the coming edition.

“UAE feels like my home away from home,” Raza said, ahead of Abu Dhabi T10 2023 which will begin on November 28^th. “I get a lot of love and respect in this part of the world. I have made a lot of good friends who have become my family. We often spend time together and remain in touch, and hence, I really enjoy my time in this city.”

Raza, who was one of the key players for the Chennai Braves in the 2022-23 season, represented the team at the 2023 Players’ Draft earlier this month and helped his side make strategic picks for the coming season. The Chennai Braves bolstered their bowling attack on the draft day, adding England pacer Sam Cook and veteran South Africa spinner Imran Tahir among their ranks, along with Hassan Ali, who joined the team as the Asian Super Star.

“I am very excited to be a part of the seventh edition of Abu Dhabi T10 League. This was my first time being part of the draft and it was absolutely nerve-wracking. There is a lot of reading, and researching that goes behind the scenes before the draft. It requires one to stay sharp at all times as a lot of things keep changing on the spot. I am really looking forward to the next season.”

After thrilling fans for several years with exciting cricketing action in Abu Dhabi, the T10 format became global in 2023, travelling across the USA, and Zimbabwe, and will also be on its way to Sri Lanka in December. Raza believes the format has developed tremendously and has now helped players across all other forms of the sport as well.

“T10 is becoming a serious format and it has already gone global this year. Now cricket statisticians are investing in collecting data on the format because it is being viewed as a future of the sport. The T10 format gives a fearless approach across batting, bowling, and fielding. T10 has helped other forms of cricket as well because players are now becoming fearless. It has also added massive quality to the game in terms of speed, quality, and skill of players.”

Raza also praised cricket fans in Abu Dhabi and explained how their presence adds to the overall atmosphere during the season and praised Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub for providing the best facilities.

“I think Abu Dhabi has hosted games really well. Whenever the fans come, they make a lot of noise and support their teams. Hats off to the Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub for providing top-draw facilities and amenities of international standards for cricketers. The fans here know their cricket so well and their feedback is very useful for us,” he signed off.

Chennai Braves:

Draft Signings: Sam Cook (Cat B), Imran Tahir (Cat B), George Munsey (Cat C), Kobe Herft (Cat C), Richard Ngarava (Cat C), Junaid Siddique (UAE-RES), Aayan Khan (UAE-RES), Vriitya Aravind (UAE-RES), Kai Smith (Emerging), Stephen Eskinazi (Opt 1)

Retained: Obed McCoy (Cat A), Sikandar Raza (Cat B)

Pre-Signings: Jason Roy (Icon), Charith Asalanka (Platinum), Bhanuka Rajapaksa (Cat A), Hassan Ali (Asian Super Star)

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Salik’s next move: Smart parking coming to Dubai Silicon Oasis, DAFZ and Dubai CommerCity

Published

18 hours ago

July 17, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Salik is taking another step beyond toll collection, announcing plans to introduce smart parking and vehicle access systems across three of Dubai’s major economic zones.

Under a new agreement with the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), the company will explore parking optimisation and access control solutions covering more than 21,000 parking spaces at Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZ), Dubai Silicon Oasis and Dubai CommerCity.

The proposed systems are designed to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, prevent misuse of parking spaces and make it easier for businesses, employees and visitors to move around the free zones.

The partnership marks the launch of a new business vertical for Salik as it continues expanding beyond its traditional road toll operations into wider mobility and digital transport services.

What will change?

The companies plan to integrate their technology platforms to create a connected parking and vehicle access system across the three zones.

Planned features include:

Smart parking management
Automated vehicle access control
Improved traffic flow within free zones
Better use of available parking spaces
Unified operating standards across all three locations

Which areas are covered?

The project will span:

Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZ)
Dubai Silicon Oasis
Dubai CommerCity

Together, the three locations offer more than 21,000 parking spaces serving businesses, residents, investors and visitors.

No timeline has yet been announced for when the new systems will be rolled out.

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New UAE rule: Emirates ID renewal now allowed one year before expiry

Published

19 hours ago

July 17, 2026

Michael Gomes

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The UAE has doubled the early renewal period for Emirates ID cards, allowing renewals up to 12 months before expiry under a new decision by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). Effective July 14, the change applies to UAE nationals for now.

Renew passport and Emirates ID together

The extended renewal window means citizens whose passport and Emirates ID expire around the same time can now renew both documents in a single transaction, reducing paperwork and saving time.

ICP said the initiative forms part of its strategy to simplify government services, improve customer experience and provide greater flexibility through digital services.

Supporting zero government bureaucracy

Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, Director General of ICP, said the decision reflects the UAE’s commitment to delivering proactive government services while giving citizens more flexibility to complete transactions at a time that suits them.

He added that the initiative supports the UAE’s Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme by reducing procedural steps, improving service integration and using advanced digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, to streamline the customer journey.

The authority said the new policy is part of its wider effort to deliver integrated, digital-first government services while strengthening the UAE’s position as a global leader in identity and public service innovation.

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Dubai warns media against publishing false news after Downtown explosion claim

Published

19 hours ago

July 17, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Dubai authorities have warned media organisations against publishing false or unverified reports after claims circulated that explosions had been heard in Downtown Dubai.

In a statement posted on X, the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO) said the emirate would take the necessary legal measures against outlets that publish inaccurate information, in line with local and federal laws.

The warning came after a brief Reuters report cited witnesses claiming they had heard booms in Downtown Dubai on Thursday. The report did not identify the source of the sounds or confirm that any incident had taken place.

The Dubai Media Office rejected the claims, stating that no explosions had occurred in the Downtown area and describing the report as false.

Authorities also urged media organisations and the public to rely on official sources for information and avoid sharing rumours or unverified reports that could cause unnecessary confusion.

The statement reinforces Dubai’s long-standing approach to combating misinformation, particularly during fast-moving events, with authorities stressing the importance of accurate reporting and verification before publication.