DHAKA // If the world wanted another fixture between India and Pakistan, the world is going to have to wait. It is not long till Dharamsala and the World Twenty20, anyway.
Bangladesh are the hosts of this party, and they will play how they want to. And they throw a remarkably good party, at that.
They barged past Pakistan in a pulsating five-wicket win in Mirpur, to claim a place in Sunday’s Asia Cup final against the unbeaten Indians.
Given how the host nation are playing at present, they will have no fear of their neighbours, who beat them in the tournament opener.
For years this side were derided as easy beats, only invited in to play with the big boys as a political sop to international cricket’s Asian Bloc.
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Turns out, they are pretty good at cricket after all, especially, as the defeated Pakistan coach Waqar Younis pointed out, when they play in front of their vociferous home support.
When Umar Akmal skied a catch out to the point boundary off Taskin Ahmed early in Pakistan’s faltering innings, it was in the air long enough for the bowler to whisper a prayer.
He need not have whispered. He could have bellowed it, and nobody would have heard above the incessant, earth-shaking din.
The atmosphere inside the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur was beyond electric. The National Grid could not produce anything like the charge the 25,000 - although there were surely more in than the bare capacity figures suggest - did at this vital Asia Cup tie.
Every seat was filled. Every gangway was filled. The neighbours perched precariously on rooftops. A 100ft drop? Meh, there is an important cricket match going on.
If the roads of Dhaka are anything to go by, the residents of this densely populated capital city have a phobia of space. In clogged traffic, pedestrians think nothing of treading the boards of the footwells of stationary rickshaws to get to the other side.
Cramming into every nook and crannie of the cricket stadium seems just sort of standard.
Sheikh Hasina, the Bangladesh prime minister, was present. When her image was beamed up on the big screen, cheers reverberated around the stadium.
Saying cricket is an obsession in this part of the world is a cliche. But if the fortunes of the Bangladesh team provide any gauge of national well being, then her approval ratings must be soaring at the moment.
The cricket team certainly are. “As far as T20 is concerned, this is one of our biggest wins,” Mashrafe Mortaza, Bangladesh’s captain, said.
They beat India in a limited-overs series for the first time last year. A win in the final would trump that.
“Another big match is coming,” Mortaza said. “I can’t say if we will win or lose. We just have to keep enjoying each others’ company and prepare the best we can.”
Waqar, Pakistan’s coach, said Bangladesh deserve respect as a team of great substance.
“Especially when they are playing at home, they are a fine side,” Waqar said. “They are growing all the time, and good for them.”
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1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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Day 5, Dubai Test: At a glance
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Stat of the day This was the ninth Test Pakistan have lost in their past 11 matches, a run that started when they lost the final match of their three-Test series against West Indies in Sharjah last year. They have not drawn a match in almost two years and 19 matches, since they were held by England at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi in 2015.
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Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
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Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
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