UAE playing a pivotal role in cricket’s modern ecosystem

While these aspects do not directly address Smith’s criticism, they do illustrate the UAE’s pivotal position in cricket’s ecosystem. (AFP)
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Updated 16 January 2025
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UAE playing a pivotal role in cricket’s modern ecosystem

  • Graeme Smith view that ILT20 ‘was not good for the game’ took no account of the league’s involvement in local UAE cricket

David White, CEO of DP World ILT20, has responded to adverse comments made by Graeme Smith, commissioner of South Africa’s Betway SA 20 league, about the ILT20.

Smith expressed a view that ILT20 “was not good for the game, with no investment back into local cricket.” As suggested in this column last week, Smith’s opinion took neither proper account of ILT20’s involvement in local UAE cricket nor the vastly different starting points from which the two leagues set off on their franchise journeys.

White took a similar line in his response, suggesting that Smith should have taken a closer look at the Emirates Cricket Board’s overall strategy. The UAE has long provided a safe bridge over troubled waters. Initially in Sharjah, its ability to be a go-to haven has grown with the Dubai International Stadium and the Sheikh Zayed and Tolerance Stadiums In Abu Dhabi. Most recently, in October 2024, the prospect of canceling the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup because of civil unrest in Bangladesh was averted by the ability to move the tournament to the UAE. A solution to the standoff between India and Pakistan over the 2025 Champions Trophy has also been supplied by the compromise to play India’s matches in Dubai.

Further back, the IPL was played in the UAE in 2021 because of COVID-19 restrictions in India, while the 2014 event was switched because it clashed with Indian general elections. The men’s T20 World Cup was also shifted to the UAE and Oman in 2021. On top of that, the ICC academy offers top-notch training facilities and two grounds on which to play. It is no surprise that the UAE attracts teams and players at professional level for training camps and competitions. It is also accessible from Europe and South Asia. A measure of its success is that the idea of English county teams going to the UAE for pre-season training is no longer considered to be risible.

While these aspects do not directly address Smith’s criticism, they do illustrate the UAE’s pivotal position in cricket’s ecosystem. Aware of this, the Emirates Cricket Board is seeking to use that position to develop its own domestic strength. Who can blame them? Funds have been invested in the community game and in school’s festivals. A secondary school competition has been reintroduced. Three hundred players registered for a development tournament, after which there was a draft with 25 players selected to participate in ILT20. There, they will learn from leading players and coaches.

South Africa, on the other hand, has been playing organized cricket since the mid-19th century, with the first club established at Port Elizabeth in 1843. In 1889 an England team visited to play two matches against a South African X1, in what would later be classed as Tests. The strength of South Africa’s cricket was encapsulated in 2012, when its men’s team became the first one to top the ICC rankings in all three formats of the game. The country’s position and reputation in world cricket is very different to that of the UAE. However, its financial position has been fragile and a franchise league was created to address that issue. SA20 can draw on a sizeable pool of domestic talent and Cricket South Africa has ensured that the best of that talent is available. The tournament requires franchises to sign 19 players, with a minimum of ten South Africans, a maximum of seven international players, a new rookie South African and a wildcard.

One of Smith’s gripes about ILT20 is the number of international players allowed to play in the tournament. Each playing 11 must include at least two UAE players and four in the squad overall. Smith’s view seems to be that this is not enough. One day the balance may well change when enough UAE players emerge with the ability to perform to the levels set by ILT20. Recalibrating the balance too early runs the risk of reducing the tournament’s quality. It would be wrong to suggest that ILT20’s strategy is not developmental. It takes time and patience.

Apart from financial considerations, SA20’s main goal is to nurture the improvement and growth of South African domestic players and the overall domestic system. Smith has gone so far as to argue that SA20 has already helped in the men’s Test team reaching the final of the World Test Championship. This seems to be an opportunistic claim. One thing that ILT20 achieves, but SA20 does not, is to facilitate participation by players from other ICC Associate members. This year, Nepal, Malaysia, the US, Scotland, Netherlands, Namibia and Italy are represented.

Both tournaments have got off to exciting starts. In SA20, last year’s winners, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, lost their first three matches, anchored at the foot of the table. The opening match of ILT20, a re-run of last year’s final, was won by one run by last year’s beaten finalists Dubai Capitals against the Mumbai Indians. Two days later, the Indians had their revenge. The 2023 winners, Gulf Giants, were beaten by six wickets by the team which they defeated, the Desert Vipers, in the final. The Giants’ innings reads curiously. In a total of 119 for nine, James Vince scored an unbeaten 76.

Vince has played 55 times for England, is a long-standing captain of Hampshire, which he led three times to success in T20 competitions, plus high positions in the county championship. On Jan. 13, he announced that he was quitting red-ball cricket to focus on white-ball cricket in 2025. He will play in the Pakistan Super League, or PSL, which will be staged in April this year so as not to clash with the Champions Trophy.

Vince had a decision to make between the PSL or red-ball cricket with Hampshire. The  England and Wales Cricket Board has stipulated that only players with white-ball-only contracts will be allowed to play in overseas franchise tournaments during English season months. Vince’s case is an example of the ways in which franchise tournaments are shaping both the future of cricket and its players’ careers.   

Each franchise has different objectives and strategies. Collectively, they are shifting cricket’s landscape. They do not appear to talk to each other and there is no regulation. Is it too much to expect that, one day, they may respect and understand their differences for the overall benefit of the game?   


Iraq hire former Australia boss Graham Arnold as head coach

Updated 09 May 2025
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Iraq hire former Australia boss Graham Arnold as head coach

  • Arnold left Australia in September
  • Iraq are third in Group B of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup

BAGHDAD: Iraq hired former Australia boss Graham Arnold as head coach of their national team on Friday.

Arnold left Australia in September after six years in charge during which he took the Socceroos to the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup, where they lost to eventual winners Argentina.

Iraq are third in Group B of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and Arnold will start with two crucial games against leader South Korea in Basra on June 5 and second-placed Jordan in Amman five days later.

Six points from these two matches would seal Iraq’s place at the tournament for the first time since their 1986 debut.


Lebanon welcomes Saudi basketball delegation

Updated 10 May 2025
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Lebanon welcomes Saudi basketball delegation

  • The arrival of Al-Ittihad marks significant step following Beirut’s efforts to rebuild international trust
  • Lebanese PM Salam welcomes Saudi team ‘to your second home’ after travel ban lifted

BEIRUT: Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad Jeddah Basketball Club landed in Beirut on Friday afternoon, arriving from the Red Sea city on a Middle East Airlines flight.

This marks the first time Saudi nationals have visited Lebanon since the Kingdom’s authorities imposed a travel ban on citizens heading to the country in 2019.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the Saudi team.

“This is a visit filled with hope for increased cooperation in various fields, and an opportunity to strengthen the fraternal relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia,” he said.

“Welcome to your second home, and among your people.”

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. (AFP/File)

Lebanon’s Youth and Sports Minister Nora Bayrakdarian was at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport to receive the Saudi sports delegation.

Al-Ittihad is participating in the FIBA West Asia Super League final eight, alongside teams from Kuwait, the UAE, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, and two teams from Lebanon —Al-Riyadi and Sagesse SC  — in matches from May 10-18.

The UAE lifted its travel ban on its citizens visiting Lebanon, and Emirati travelers began arriving in the Mediterranean country at the beginning of this week.

Lebanon is eagerly anticipating the return of other Gulf nationals, particularly in light of President Joseph Aoun’s recent visits to Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, aimed at restoring international trust in the country.

On May 7, an Emirates plane landed at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, and the passengers from the UAE were welcomed with flowers.

At the time, the Lebanese ambassador to the UAE, Fouad Chehab Dandan, posted pictures of the warm reception on his Facebook account.

The ambassador commented: “A step that brings hope for the return of our Arab brothers to their second home, Lebanon, which will welcome and receive them with flowers, warmth, and love.”
 


FIFA Women’s World Cup to be expanded to 48 teams from 2031

Updated 09 May 2025
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FIFA Women’s World Cup to be expanded to 48 teams from 2031

  • The 48-team tournament will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104
  • The 2027 tournament in Brazil will remain at 32 teams

PARIS: The Women’s World Cup will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams, like the men’s competition, starting with the 2031 edition, FIFA announced on Friday.

The FIFA Council unanimously agreed to enlarge the competition “given the remarkable recent strides made by women’s football across the world,” the sport’s governing body said in a statement.

The 48-team tournament will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104 and extending the tournament by one week, FIFA said.
FIFA have still to ratify the 2031 and 2035 hosts.

The 2027 tournament in Brazil will remain at 32 teams.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the move followed the success of the 2023 World Cup in Australia won by Spain.

The 2023 tournament was “the first in which teams from all confederations won at least one game and teams from five confederations reached the knockout stage, among many other records, set a new standard for global competitiveness,” said Infantino.

“This decision ensures we are maintaining the momentum in terms of growing women’s football globally.

“This is not just about having 16 more teams playing ... but taking the next steps in relation to the women’s game in general by ensuring that more FIFA Member Associations have the chance to benefit from the tournament to develop their women’s football structures.”

The decision, FIFA said, will broaden representation, offering more nations and players access to elite competition and accelerating investment in women’s football worldwide.

The men’s tournament will be expanded to 48 teams for the World Cup in 2026, to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.


Liverpool’s Salah voted Football Writers’ Player of the Year

Updated 09 May 2025
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Liverpool’s Salah voted Football Writers’ Player of the Year

  • Salah earned the prize after scoring 28 goals and producing 18 assists for Liverpool
  • The Egypt forward broke the record for the most goal involvements

LONDON: Mohamed Salah won the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award for the third time on Friday after inspiring Liverpool’s march to a record-equalling 20th English title.

Salah earned the prize after scoring 28 goals and producing 18 assists for Liverpool in the Premier League this season.

The Egypt forward broke the record for the most goal involvements in a 38-game Premier League campaign as Arne Slot’s side romped to their first title since 2020.

Salah secured almost 90 percent of the football writers’ votes, marking the biggest winning margin this century.

Liverpool center-back Virgil van Dijk came second in the contest, with Newcastle striker Alexander Isak third and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice fourth.

Salah, who was previously given the award in 2017-18 and 2021-22, is now level with former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry as the only players to win it three times.

The 32-year-old recently ended speculation over his future by signing a new two-year contract to stay at Anfield until 2027.

Salah’s decision to commit to Liverpool will make them favorites to win a record 21st title next season as they look to move ahead of Manchester United as England’s most successful top-flight club.

Alessia Russo became the second Arsenal player to land the women’s award as the striker finished ahead of last year’s winner Khadija Shaw.


Lionel Messi, Inter Miami turn focus to Minnesota United

Updated 09 May 2025
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Lionel Messi, Inter Miami turn focus to Minnesota United

  • The Loons will play Miami for only the second time ever
  • Inter Miami enter the match in fourth place in the Eastern Conference

MIAMI: Inter Miami embark on the first of back-to-back road trips in five days when they take on host Minnesota United on Saturday afternoon in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

The Loons (5-2-4, 19 points) will play Miami for only the second time ever and enter the contest a distant second in the Western Conference.

Minnesota is balancing league play with its push to try to win the US Open Cup, as it advanced to the Round of 16 on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over USL Championship club Louisville City FC.

Inter Miami (6-1-3, 21 points) enter the match in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. They were eliminated 3-1 by Vancouver in the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup on April 30.

Miami can narrow its focus to league play over the next few weeks and try to continue making up ground in the standings coming off a 4-1 win over the New York Red Bulls last Saturday.

“We’re going to fight for the top spots in the Eastern Conference, and then we’ll see what comes (over the summer) with the Club World Cup and the Leagues Cup,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said this week. “But right now, the most important game is the next one.”

Lionel Messi scored in Miami’s victory Saturday as did Luis Suarez, breaking droughts of four games across all competitions without goals for the two soccer legends.

Darius Randell scored the lone goal in the 65th minute against Louisville on an assist from Sang Bin Jeong.

Saturday’s game will feature a reunion of sorts as recently acquired midfielder Julian Gressel will face his former club, which waived him last month. Gressel started 31 games for Inter Miami last season.

“I’ve been waiting for this ever since I knew what my situation was in Miami and that was pretty early on,” Gressel told Minnesota reporters recently.

“They laid a pretty clear picture out for me, and I appreciated that, so we could try and come up with a solution. It took longer than I thought, but ultimately, I’m happy to be here.”