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UAE v West Indies: Talking points on eve of ICC World Cup Qualifier

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The UAE suffered a chastening 3-0 one-day international series whitewash to West Indies on the eve of the ICC World Cup Qualifier where both teams are slotted in different groups.

Ahead of the June 18 start in Zimbabwe, both teams naturally tried to count it as a learning experience, but UAE interim manager Mudassar Nazar took the boys out of the Sharjah Cricket Stadium early without addressing the media.

 

UAE lose the plot

It did not help that the third game finished two hours earlier than time, due to a collapse of the batting order which needs the most urgent attention. West Indies reached the target of 185 in 35.1 overs but lost six wickets in the process to some fighting performances by the UAE bowlers.

The couple of players who spoke during the prize distribution ceremonies over the course of the three matches could only talk about how they are soaking in the experience, because most of them are finding their way to the top. There was Ali Naseer who hit back-to-back 50s in the first two games – also his international career’s first, a steady bowling performance from Aayan Khan and Karthik Meiyappan as well as two wickets for the debutant in the third ODI, Muhammad Jawadullah.

Kevin Sinclair does a flip in his signature-style celebration on course to taking four wickets. Emirates Cricket

West Indies fly high

For West Indies, there was more validation to the revival of Brandon King as an opener which materialised by captain Shai Hope dropping down the order. King was adjudged Player of the Series. Kevin Sinclair, 23, took four wickets on Friday.

Along with two run-outs, he was instrumental as UAE lost eight wickets for the addition of 42 runs in less than 14 overs. Then Alick Athanaze, 24, served notice in the ODI format in blazing fashion. His 65 from 45 balls comprised the joint-fastest half-century by a debutant, matching India’s Krunal Pandya 26-ball effort against England.

Visitors show spunk and attitude

The heat made for challenging conditions and gave a stark reminder to the Asian Cricket Council officials, who are deliberating the hybrid model of staging the Asia Cup by Pakistan. The 2023 hosts are trying to accommodate India at a neutral venue at the latter’s insistence and Sri Lanka is winning the battle currently over the regular option of UAE.

“We are professionals and we have to adapt to every condition that we have in front of us,” said Darren Sammy, the West Indies coach. “In fact, we are trying to be where we were (as two-time world champions in the 1970s) and the road is very long. We need to first recognize our position, where we stand and then take one step at a time.

“Seven of the players heading to Zimbabwe were part of this squad. We tried a few things and achieved some things with a lot of positives. Getting to bowl the opposition out in two games given the conditions has given us a lot of confidence,” he said.

Former legendary all-rounder Carl Hooper has joined the team and he, too, exuberate positivity with his trademark swagger and calm confidence. “We are getting there one day at a time. The weather will be cold in Zimbabwe but we are also not playing much cricket. So coming here and challenging ourselves has been good for our preparations. We must adapt and accept the challenges that come our way.”

Still needing direction

Meanwhile, in the local camp, coach Nazar has been left holding the rebuilding team after the departure of Robin Singh in March. The UAE were due to fly on Sunday, but there was no official communication until the time of writing this on late Saturday evening. The UAE squad will be the last to be announced out of the 10 teams in action.

Captain Muhammed Waseem and the recalled Rameez Shahzad had mixed fortunes with the bat, while Aryansh Sharma, Lovepreet Singh, Aayan Khan and Asif Khan failed to make an impression on the scoreboard. It was left to Ali Nasser to hit two back to back half-centuries in the first games to prop up some fighting total for the hosts to have a go at.

Nasser revealed to Headline UAE that he bats at No 8 on the domestic circuit. It was perplexing to see him continue to arrive at No 7 in the third ODI as well. The other senior player Rohan Mustafa also proved to be a hole in the top-five batting order that the UAE needs to still fix going into the Qualifier. Ten teams will whittle down to a Super Six stage before two teams make it to the grand stage. Based on this showing, Nazar’s UAE side has its task cut out if it wants to avoid disappearing without a trace.

Journalist for 25 years with leading publications in India and UAE such as The National, Mumbai Mirror, DNA, Indian Express and former Sports Editor of eIndia.com. Now managing editor of Headline.ae, part of MEMc (https://www.memc.co)

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Nick Kyrgios Fires Back at Mahut in Explosive Tennis Comeback

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Adapted from an exclusive with Telecom Asia Sports

Abu Dhabi, December 20, 2024 – Nick Kyrgios is back, and he’s not holding back. After a hard fought defeat in his match against Andrey Rublev at the World Tennis League in Abu Dhabi, the Australian tennis star hit out at former doubles World No. 1 Nicolas Mahut amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Kyrgios’ comments about Jannik Sinner, the current world No. 1.

The drama began after Kyrgios, never one to mince words, expressed his desire to face Sinner at the upcoming Australian Open, vowing to turn the crowd against the Italian. Speaking on the Nothing Major podcast, Kyrgios said: “Let’s be honest, I just want to go out there and I really want to play Sinner. If I played him in the Australian Open, I’d get every person in the crowd to get on him. It would turn into an absolute riot. All respect would go out the window, and I would just do anything to win.”

Kyrgios’ comments came in the wake of Sinner’s doping controversy earlier this year, where the Italian tested positive for the banned substance clostebol. While Sinner was ultimately cleared of any fault by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), the case remains under appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Kyrgios has been vocal about his disapproval of the ruling, previously calling for Sinner to be banned.

Mahut, a former doubles World No. 1 and five-time Grand Slam champion, publicly condemned Kyrgios for what he deemed unnecessary and disrespectful remarks. Speaking to Eurosport, Mahut said: “I don’t like these kinds of statements. Kyrgios gave his opinion about Sinner’s positive tests, which is fine, but to let it escalate like this? Sinner has never disrespected anyone, and he’s the No. 1 in the world. There’s no need to let yourself go like this.” Mahut also dismissed Kyrgios’ chances of defeating Sinner, predicting, “Even if the crowd gets excited, Sinner will win that match easily with 6-3s.”

In an interview following his match at the World Tennis League in Abu Dhabi, Kyrgios responded to Mahut’s criticism with characteristic bluntness. Speaking exclusively to Telecom Asia Sports, he remarked: “I don’t know if there’s a back-and-forth. Nicolas Mahut, on a global level, hasn’t made inroads like I have, so I’ll let that be. And I don’t think the world necessarily cares too much about what Nicolas Mahut has to say.”

The 29-year-old, returning to the court after over a year recovering from wrist reconstruction surgery, also addressed his ability to compete at the highest level. “I wasn’t retiring. Trust me, I was two sets away from winning a Grand Slam. I didn’t retire; I was forced to stop playing for a while. It was very, very hard because I was playing the best tennis of my life,” Kyrgios told Telecom Asia Sports. “It’s been about 16 months since my surgery, and I’ve done everything the right way—no shortcuts, just rehab and hard work. I’ve put myself in the best position I can, and now I’ll let my tennis do the talking.”

Kyrgios didn’t shy away from addressing Mahut’s criticism of his confidence, saying: “I have people like Mahut telling me to be realistic. He was an amazing doubles player, a Grand Slam champion, no doubt, but he didn’t have the singles career I’ve had. That’s probably why he has his opinion. But on the singles court, he never had the belief I have, so that opinion means nothing to me.” He added, “Federer, Nadal, Djokovic—they were the greatest because people were defeated before they even stepped on the court with them. I don’t want to be that player. I’ll always back my ability and my belief.”

While Kyrgios acknowledged the current dominance of players like Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, he remained defiant. “There’s no doubt that Sinner, Alcaraz—these guys are the best in the world right now, hands down. But that doesn’t mean I won’t believe in myself. I’ll always back myself and do everything I can to compete,” he stated.

Kyrgios is set to make his much-anticipated return to the Australian Open in January, marking his first appearance at his home Grand Slam in three years. He will also partner with Novak Djokovic in the doubles draw at the Brisbane International, a pairing that has already created buzz in the tennis world.

As Kyrgios reenters the spotlight, one thing is clear—his unfiltered approach and unwavering confidence continue to make him one of tennis’ most polarizing and fascinating figures. Whether or not he faces Sinner, Kyrgios has made it clear that he’s ready to fight for his place among the game’s elite.


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Dubai Welcomes Kabaddi with a Spectacular Exhibition Match

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The Real Kabaddi League (RKL), known for redefining grassroots sports in India, is set to captivate the Gulf region with an exhilarating Kabaddi exhibition match at Al Ahli Sports Club, Dubai, at 6 PM onwards. This highly anticipated event will feature two specially created dummy teams—Indian Warriors and Gulf Gladiators, showcasing raw and emerging talent on an international platform.

Supported by the Dubai Sports Council, the event symbolizes a monumental step in introducing the traditional Indian sport to a global audience, particularly the Gulf region. With a blend of sportsmanship, entertainment, and education, this evening is poised to leave an indelible mark on the world of Kabaddi.

The evening kicks off with a breathtaking Arabic Emirati performance, setting the stage for an unforgettable cultural exchange.
A high-energy dance performance post-match (by Zara Khan) will close the event on a vibrant note.

Bollywood legend Suniel Shetty and Indian Wrestler Sangram Singh will lend their star presence, elevating the event’s appeal.

To familiarize Gulf audiences with Kabaddi, RKL has developed animated explainer videos that simplify the sport’s rules in an engaging format, ensuring everyone in attendance can fully immerse themselves in the action.

True to its mission, RKL will showcase young and raw Kabaddi players, making this match a gateway for unexplored talent to shine on a global stage.

Lavish Choudhary, Co-Founder in RKL, emphasized: “The aim behind RKL is always to promote young, raw, and rural unexplored talent and give them a stage to shine.”

Shubham Choudhary, Founder of RKL, added: “This exhibition match serves as the base ground for the Kabaddi sport to enter Gulf countries, and I believe people are going to love it.”

The match will be broadcast live on the Real Kabaddi League’s YouTube channel, enabling fans worldwide to experience the unmissable action. The event is open to all sports enthusiasts, welcoming everyone intrigued by Kabaddi’s dynamic energy and team spirit.

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Jaffna Titans secure dominant win over Colombo Jaguars on rain-hit Day 2 of Lanka T10

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Jaffna Titans registered a comprehensive win against Colombo Jaguars by 40 runs to add two more points to the tally in Lanka T10 Super League at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on a rain-marred second day. Jaffna rode on some spectacular batting from opener Kusal Mendis and his Sri Lankan teammate Charith Asalanka to post a mammoth 138/6 in 10 overs on the board.

While Mendis struck 37 off just 19 deliveries, Asalanka notched up 56 off 24 with the help of five maximums and as many fours. For Jaguars, skipper Angelo Mathews and Ali Khan picked up two wickets each.

Later, bowlers and especially youngster Treveen Mathew who has been gathering praise from everyone for his spin bowling did the job for the Titans and restricted the opposition to 98/6. Colombo Jaguars never really got the start they needed and lost wickets at regular intervals.

Treveen Mathew once again showed his skills and returned with bowling figures of 3/18 in 20 overs.

Earlier, first match on Day 2 between Kandy Bolts and Nuwara Eliya Kings was called off due to rain after just 3.3 overs. Kandy Bolts who were batting first had put up 38/1 with Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka being not out at 26 off 11 when rain arrived. The second fixture between Galle Marvels and Hambantota Bangla Tigers was abandoned without toss.

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