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comparatist · 4 years

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Here goes my findings on Neerja Bhanot. ✌

Neerja Bhanot: The First Indian And The Youngest Woman To Receive Ashok Chakra

What does the modern articulation of a hero consist of, or for that matter the ancient terms of presenting a male protagonist? A towering figure, with unrealistic standards of physical beauty, a ‘masculine' rage and a penchant for bloodlust to be projected through his body language and last but not the least, the portrayal of basic forms of kindness through the glorification of the ‘saviour' mentality. When the normalisation starts to set on such standards, who’d have thought that a young woman in her 20s would break the monotony of such reflections through her indomitable courage, intelligency and dedication to establish the fact that not all hero wear capes? Neerja might not fit the traditional projection of heroes we see everywhere, but she’s the hero who refused to endure domestic abuse, saved the lives of 359 people by her quick wit and is an inspiration for all woman, who choose to speak even after being bloodied by the claws of patriarchy every now and then.

• Early Life: In September 7th, 1962, Neerja was born in the family of journalist Harish Bhanot and Rama Bhanot. Her father wrote in a letter, after death that he was ‘happy to hear' that he was blessed with a baby girl. Little Neerja was instantly everybody's centre of attention and often used to get addressed by Lado(the loved one). Neerja did her primary schooling till 6th standard in Chandigarh’s Sacred High School before her family shifted to Mumbai. She completed her schooling from Bombay Scottish School and eventually graduated from St Xavier’s College. Harish Bhanot wrote how Neerja was a no-nonsense girl from the very start. At the age of 18, she got approached by a photographer for a modelling assignment as ‘The Girl Next Door' for a magazine named Bombay. The ad gave her the opportunity to work with Paville, a popular retail store and eventually opened doors of getting featured in Binaca, Vaporex, Charmis, Krack Jack, Amul etc. for her.

However, by March 1985, her family got her married to a man they saw on the ad in Sharjah, UAE. Her became a living hell after that.

• Overcoming Obstacles: Within two months Neerja realised, life here won’t grant her the freedom as it did back in Mumbai. She faced emotional abuse from her in-laws in the form of “Even a very poor man gives his daughter something in marriage,” though they had decided not to take dowry during the marriage. She was even starved and denied money. She decided to end their marriage and pledge never to go back after she returned to Mumbai for a modelling assignment, and a letter from her husband stating the humiliating terms for her return followed her.

Determined to move past the trauma, she applied to Pan Am for the position of a flight attendant. Only 80 out of 10,000 applicants where chosen, Neerja being one of them. She was sent to Miami, for span of 6-8 weeks and within a year, based on peer review and her incredible performance in the field, was sent to London to be a Purser- the senior most cabin manager. Pursers worked as managers on flights. They handled passengers' complaints, made required arrangements and handled security.

It was this training which helped her later, to save the lives of people during the Pan Am flight 73 hijacking incident on September 5th, 1986.

• Neerja, The Braveheart: Several survivors of that hijacked flight, later revealed the importance of her role in the situation of crisis, how she outwitted the Libyan terrorists, alerted the crew to escape and prevent the flight from taking off. Doctor Kishore Murthy, a passenger on the flight recalled, “She was at the entrance of the aircraft when the terrorists boarded. She could have escaped like the pilots did, but she didn’t do it. That shows her guts and inner strength. She was truly a great leader.” After the crew left, she took the responsibility of the highest command in her hands, took charge of the situation as the terrorists asked for a different flight crew and tried to single out and take hostage of the American passengers in order to get their demands met. Under her supervision, the remaining staffs remained to maintain their duty of taking care of passengers along with successfully hiding their American passports from the terrorists as well.

Her anti hijacking training skills helped to keep the terrorist calm, thereby preventing any escalation during the negotiation efforts for 17 hours. Things took ugly turn when the lights went out due to the power shortage and the terrorists opened fire. Even then, she didn’t panic, held her ground strong and opened an exit to get all the passengers out before trying to leave herself. Her quick thinking angered the terrorists so much that they shot her point blank range in the head while she was doing her duty of guiding the passengers to safety.

• Legacy: Neerja's valour resides in the hearts of Indians even after 34 years of her demise. She was awarded Ashok Chakra posthumously for her bravery, which mother accepted in her place. Four years after, since 1990, a ‘Neerja Bhanot Award’ is given to women who are bold enough to overcome social injustice and help others to do the same every year by the Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust.

In 2004, the Indian Postal Service released a stamp in her honour. In 2016, Sonam Kapoor starred in the award winning masterpiece ‘Neerja', that honoured Bhanot's life. The same year, her brother Aneesh Bhanot authored a book named ‘The Neerja I Knew', having personal accounts of her friends, life, family and her co-workers along with her photos.

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anne1066-blog · 5 years

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30th January 2019

This is a new idea that Jane suggested because I have various things niggling at the moment and I can’t quantify them. So this is a very private blog diary just monitoring how I’m feeling and where I’m at. I might share it with friends or I might not. Why put it on a public platform? Well pressing post makes you really feel you’ve set the feelings free and put it out there even if no one actually reads it. It worked for me before when I was getting a load of stuff out of my system regarding a failed engagement, cheating and a pretty intense relationship with a much older man who had 3 children.

Where am I at today? Bloody knackered. I’ve basically called in sick all week with a recurrence of a cold that didn’t have major symptoms but made me feel crappy and subhuman. I’ve fought through it a bit to work in extreme cold and also to go an a weekend with friends in York which of course I did enjoy but I also didn’t enjoy it as much as I should have. It felt way too short. I need a get away from my life at the moment. There are a lot of hard decisions to face and I know I’m not managing them all that well.

So to recap what got me to where we are today:

In 2014 I moved to Oxfordshire to set up a cheesemaking dairy. It was a brand new start for me and had the promise to be an exciting chapter in my life. I learned a lot from it - how to plan a new building specifically for a cheesemaking facility, how to find the site, plan the layout, source the milk, decide on a marketable recipe, build a brand (not the first time I’d been involved in branding to be fair) and not least but troubleshoot a recipe which ended up being the achilles heel. As it turned out the milk production standards weren’t really up to the recipe we wanted to make. After months of cheese we didn’t want to sell, I was made redundant. I don’t want to be bitter but I feel there were some bad commercial decisions made by my business partner who was meant to be in charge of sales. She charged ahead with full scale production when the cheese wasn’t good enough to sell at full price and she also gave away vast amounts of cheese which could have been sold for at least a price that covered costs. All of this lead to a financial crisis and that was it - I was gone.

Before that happened, I had what had was a life changing holiday around the world which happened just as the cheesemaking dairy was opening and needing to go into production - it was 6 months over schedule. It was a revelation though. I flew to countries I had never visited and had to negotiate them by myself. I had a couple of days in Dubai, flew through Singapore (never left the airport to be fair so it doesn’t really count), flew on to Australia and from there to New Zealand after a very brief overnight stay in a hotel near the airport and from there after driving solo around South Island to Sydney, the Cook Islands, Santa Monica, San Francisco and then home. It took 6 weeks and it really made me feel confident; not least because after years of being invisible to any guys out there but I got attention in every place I touched down in - some rather more meaningful than others to be fair. In Dubai, I connected with our desert tour guide who was a worker from Pakistan living in the UAE (not Dubai it’s far too expensive but the more restrictive Sharjah where women’s rights are quite seriously undermined). He was an outsider but loved the desert and remembering the way the Namib desert had made me feel many years ago, so did I. Our fellow travellers were good time tourists so there seemed a contrast between them enjoying the desert safari tourist activities and me just enjoying the culture of the country and the stillness of the desert. i know that makes me sound extremely up myself but I can’t think of another way to describe it. He asked me out on a date which never happened and in retrospect that was a good thing. I would never have realised that things like holding hands with a potential romantic partner are forbidden in Dubai nor would I have realised that normal activities like kissing a first date can actually get you taken to prison. After Dubai, I flew to New Zealand but happened to talk to my co passenger on the flight to Adelaide and have a very interesting conversation about colonialism and England’s position in Australia - not heavy - we joked about it - food for thought all the same which s the point of travel after all. In New Zealand, I met up again with lovely friends I hadn’t seen for years and also met up with my sister and her boyfriend and my friend Cathi’s family who welcomed us as part of their big, lovely family too. It was an amazing time to feel so incredibly accepted and welcomed. And again I connected with someone, my friend’s older brother (also the only other single person there - I may have decided unlike me to flirt a bit with him as we were the only singletons there). He was a lovely, funny, warm guy who as a chef was a great person to cook with and this was an area we had in common. After the wedding ended and we moved on to normal life (him) and the rest of my holiday (me) we stayed facebook friends and he often is one of the first people to like my posts even to this day because he’s a genuinely great person. In Sydney, i went out to dinner with my uber glamorous friend Cristiana and because she’s open, chatty and lovely we ended up on a communal table in a restaurant when we went out for a meal and she got involved in conversation with a noisy group of guys sat to our left. One of them was looking at me and when I went for a ‘comfort break’ he actually approached Cris to say I was lovely and ask who I was! From Sydney I flew to the Cook Islands where I met a lovely lady (not in thet way) who invited me to go swimming with her family after the kids got back from school and who took me down the road to my hostel to collect my swimming things on her motorbike. My first time on a motorbike and frankly a bit terrifying. I also get ogled which hadn’t happened in let’s say about 20 years in London. In San Francisco, a waiter who I had quizzed about local cheeses and wines slipped me his telephone number on my bill. I didn’t find it until I sorted my receipts back in the UK and hadn’t fancied him anyway so just as well but all helps the ego doesn’t it? Especially when you’re over 40 at the time and have resigned yourself to no one finding you attractive anymore.

Anyway so that’s my trip and there was so much more too that I don’t have time to write about. The key thing is that I came back feeling much more empowered and confident. I had travelled the world by myself and not only that but after years feeling invisible I had finally felt attractive again. Boosted by this, I decided to take action, try internet dating again and this time I actually met someone. I was a bit concerned about meeting him - he was openly into kink and sexual things I wasn’t experienced in but as well as that he was warm, made me laugh and I was interested. I wasn’t openly attracted to him when we met. There was certainly something there - we had been very open when messaging and honest and I fancied his personality but as usual on a first internet date, the nerves kicked in and it was difficult when we first said hello to feel anything much. I knew that would happen though so when I couldn’t think of anything to say to him and he moved in for a reassuring hug, I decided to turn it into a chemistry test and effectively snogged his face off for about 90 minutes until our table reservation was ready. That certainly broke the ice so conversation flowed more easily afterwards and I made moves to go back with him to his place after the meal where I could test the theory further. I was relieved and rather pleased to find that the attraction wasn’t just based on text messages and being a gentleman he also drove me home and stayed in touch afterwards. We met up a few times and eventually decided to get together. I would never have had the courage to do this if I hadn’t had my empowering holiday and since we’re still together despite the odds 4 years later it was definitely a good move.

However this was all very new when I was made redundant. He assured me he wouldn’t be going anywhere but it was too soon to move in together so I moved all my 3 bedroom house’s worth of belongings back to my parents’ house in Marple and looked for a job. I emailed anyone I could think of to explain I was looking for work and found somewhere in London that seemed a great match. It was with a Spanish importer looking to improve their cheese maturation and whose owner I had worked with before when setting up Borough Market in London.

Unfortunately although the interview went well, the owner wanted to work with me and my references thought it was a given, I failed their HR tests and I have to be honest it knocked my confidence extremely badly. I took another job that seemed exciting and had been a second choice due only to location - north Yorkshire, a long way away from the lovely new boyfriend.

I worked with them for 3 months before again, redundancy. This time, they great ideas they had had for expansion which I was a key part of, had to be put on hold because of a disastrous Christmas in which various storms flooded large parts of the north of England and cut into their sales. By this time, I had bought a house nearby and now had to find a new job and work out what to do with a house I had hoped to make a home.

Initially I had looked to resurrect the house which had at the time all the hallmarks of having been owned by an elderly couple who loved it and had also done nothing to it since probably the 1960s in a way i would live in. The plans changed to make it something that could be sold or rented and without wishing to be dramatic, with that a little bit of me died at losing my home.

I didn’t wallow though, there was work to be done. The house needed substantial work including rewiring, replastering, a new kitchen and new decorating and floors throughout. By the time it was finished it was actually rather lovely. I felt sad that i wasn’t going to live in the results of our work and sad that I wouldn’t be living in a beautiful part of the country. Actually I felt very sad not to be living in a house whose renovations I had initially begun with a view to making it my home. But again I had been looking around for another job although with a heavier heart this time. Being knocked back 3 times will do that to you. This time I had a message from a friend who makes cheese in Suffolk and her cheeses are extremely well regarded so helping her albeit on a basis that wouldn’t be full-time seemed like a great idea. We tried it out and she reckoned I could work 2-3 days a week although with some big changes to the recipe as she was currently making cheese at midnight and cat napping to accomodate the make schedule.

So I moved to Bungay in Suffolk. It was different - flat lands where I am used to seeing hills, but it had an artistic, musical community and I started to look at property prices again wondering about living there if the job worked out.

I had been there a month when Brexit happened.

My constituency was a big Brexit voting area. I saw people in my local co op looking afraid when their children spoke polis to them. I began to feel much less welcome myself. It seemed there was a big difference between the artistic fringe in the area and the locals who resented anyone who moved in whether they were Polish or just from Marple. I stopped feeling welcome. I actually felt observed, scrutinised and as though I didn’t belong. iI felt like Roystn Veasey. ‘You’re not local are you?’

The vote itself upset me more than I realised it could. I spent months watching the 2012 Olympics ceremony which was a celebration of multicultural Britain and crying my eyes out as racist hate crimes increased across the country and in he wake of right wing extremists killing the pro-Muslim MP Jo Cox. During the football in the Europe that preceded the vote as violance and yobbishness hit 1908s levels among chants of ‘We’re leaving the EU and we don’t care’, I could see what the results of the vote were going to be. An MP was murdered and my worst fears were confirmed. And yet 52% of the country still cast their votes with a racist ideology and Nigel Fargae’s openly racist campaigning. If I had been concerned about EU corruption and taking back control, his anti muslim poster and the rise of race crime before the referendum empowering racists to openly abuse people in public in a way they had not felt able to for over 30 years would have convinced me this vote was not going the way I hoped and I would have changed my mind. I respect anyone who did this and I can not forgive anyone who didn’t.

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allaboutsblog · 2 years

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🇲‌🇴‌🇷‌🇳‌🇮‌🇳‌🇬‌

🇭‌🇪‌🇦‌🇩‌🇱‌🇮‌🇳‌🇪‌🇸‌

⬛⬛Transporters call for ‘Chakka Jam’ in Kashmir on Today to press for demands

⬛⬛In Ganderbal village, Muslim man takes care of Shiva temple

⬛⬛Journalist-turned-militant killed in Srinagar gunfight: Police

⬛⬛Rayees was missing from August 2021; 2 FIRs lodged against him

⬛⬛Srinagar-Sharjah direct flight a runaway success for economy of J&K

⬛⬛DGP sanctions over Rs 1.78 crore as welfare loan/relief in favour of Police personnel.

⬛⬛Brig Sanjeev Kumar takes over as DDG of NCC Directorate J&K, Ladakh.

⬛⬛J&K Police orders transfers and postings of two DSPs.

⬛⬛CID launches portal for online services for citizens of J&K.

⬛⬛297 POCSO cases in J&K during 2018-20: Govt.

⬛⬛COVID-19: J&K logs only 13 fresh cases, no death.

⬛⬛ACB arrests Accounts Asst Sadar Treasury Sgr for accepting bribe.

⬛⬛Biggest operation of Ramban Police against Bovine Smugglers, Rescued 828 Bovine Animals under Operation “Kamdhenu”.

⬛⬛One absconder evading arrest since 4 years has been arrested by Police station Satwari.

⬛⬛4 different vehicles involved in illegal mining seized by Jammu Police.

⬛⬛Missing person reunited with family by PP Phallain Mandal Jammu.

⬛⬛An attempt to murder case registered against the accused rs pura.

⬛⬛Two snatcher arrested by bus stand police.

⬛⬛Molesting case registered by satwari police.

⬛⬛Samba police team attacked by Bovine smguller, three cop injured.

⬛⬛assault case at hiranagar.

⬛⬛One arrested with heroin by kathua police.

⬛⬛Missing case at janipur.

⬛⬛Two arrested with heroin by chinore police.

⬛⬛18-yr-old boy electrocuted to death in Rajouri.

⬛⬛Doda Police provide study material to school children of BPL families under CAP.

⬛⬛Man killed after being hit by train in J&K's Samba.

⬛⬛J-K Police arrests fake ‘magician.

⬛⬛One arrested with heroin by PS Kreeri.

⬛⬛Soldier Injured After His Rifle Goes Off Accidentally In Kulgam.

⬛⬛Police arrests 03 drug peddlers in Ganderbal, Awantipora; contraband substances recovered.

⬛⬛Police arrests 01 person posing as fake magician/beggar in Budgam.

⬛⬛Police arrests 02 drug peddlers in Baramulla; contraband substance recovered.

⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛

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kukujain · 3 years

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Best Credit Cards to Get in 2021

Financial health is an important element in our lives. In times like these, it is important that we must ensure that our financial health is in best order. Credit cards are one way where we can ensure that our spends are rewarded in a good measure through loyalty rewards which is a form of a saving. This article talks about some of the best credit cards in the UAE across categories such as premium, cashback and no fee cards.

Things to note before one applies for a credit card.

We must understand our financial ability on repayments before signing up for a credit card. Since this can have a significant impact on one’s credit score which happens to be a basic requirement for any future credit requirements, one must ensure that the need and ability to pay in a disciplined manner is evident.

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Features such as airport lounge access, valet service, buy 1 get 1 offers, promotional balance transfer rates, free movies etc., are popular and does provided value to customers who use these services.

Most of the credit card issuing companies offer attractive joining offers to new customers. These can be in the form of promotional cashback rates for a specific period, joining bonus airmiles, free hotel stays and so on.

Soul wallet’s extensive research on products available in the UAE is primarily to cater to customer needs in clearly understanding which the suitable cards are customized to one’s individual spend patterns.

Most of the products listed below are from our partners who compensate us. However, the review is completely unbiased and an individual opinion of Soulwallet based on product features, customer feedback etc., One must be aware that some of the product features might change at the time of your application, hence we recommend that customers revalidate specific reward features prior to application.

Best Cashback Credit Cards 2021

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Best Reward Points Credit Cards 2021

Show 102550100 entriesSearch:Product NameBank NameAnnual FeeProfit / Interest RateMinimum SalaryTop ReasonsApply OnlineGo4it Platinum Credit CardEmirates NBD

03.25%12000Exclusive cinema offers, Life time free card along with a AED 300 Noon.com voucher Earn Plus Points for every spend and redeem them instantly at your favourite stores. You can also convert your Plus Points to Frequent Flyer Miles or Cash back. 5 Plus Points for every AED 200 spend on weekends. 4 Plus Points for every AED 200 spend on RTA. 1 Plus Points for every AED 200 spend on weekdaysApply for Emirates NBD Go4it Platinum Credit Card OnlineLulu Platinum Credit CardADCB03.25%15000No Annual Fee, Interest-free balance transfers, Redeem reward points instantly at Lulu, Benefits at Ferrari World & Yas Water world, Lulupoints can be redeemed with supplementary card. Earn LuluPoints for every 1 AED spent earn 5 LuluPoints on purchases made at all Lulu stores in UAE. For every 1 AED spent earn 1.25 LuluPoints on purchases made elsewhere subject to meeting a monthly spend goal of AED 3,500 (Lulu elsewhere). 5000 Lulupoints gives voucher worth AED 50. Points can be redeemed instantly at the checkout counters of Lulu Hypermarket across UAE. Can be redeemed for as low as 5000 Lulupoints with supplementary card as well.Apply for ADCB Lulu Platinum Credit Card OnlineEDGE CardADIB7502.99%1500010% cashback on all dining spend in UAE, Extensive travel insurance and protection, ADIB Rewards Program, Earn 2.5 reward points for 1 AED you spend on your card. ;Points earned can be used towards airline tickets, shopping mall vouchers and Club Apparel gift cards.Apply for ADIB EDGE Card OnlineGEMS Titanium Credit CardFAB03.5%5000No annual fee. Up to 4.25% fixed discount on advanced payment of GEMS fees. 10% Cashback with Shop Smart. Enjoy access to airport lounges across the Middle East. Enjoy special offers at restaurants, premium retail etc. Earn 1 Star for every AED 1 spent on Domestic purchases Earn 1.75 Stars for every AED 1 spent on International purchases Redeem your Stars for Etihad Guest Miles, Skywards Miles from Emirates, or to book tickets on any airline through Stars Travel Portal.Apply for FAB GEMS Titanium Credit Card OnlineRewards Credit CardCitibank03.25%8000Earn ThankYou Reward points on all spends, VoucherSkout-Signup offer, Enjoy a 12-month amazon premium membership free, Get AED 300 worth of gift cards exclusively on Soulwallet Earn 1.5 ThankYou Points for any USD 1 spent in foreign currency Earn 1 ThankYou Points for any USD 1 spent in local currency (AED) 10 ThankYou Points for every USD 1 spent on hotel bookings at Kaligo.com With your ThankYou Points you have the flexibility to redeem for travel rewards, merchandise, gift vouchers and many other rewarding experiences Choose from merchandise ranging from apparel to electronics to home goods and more Pay with Points for your purchases through SMS or Citibank OnlineApply for Citi Rewards Credit Card OnlineShowing 1 to 5 of 5 entriesPreviousNext

Best Travel Credit Cards 2021

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Key Tips for First time Credit Card Users Credit cards can be outstanding tools to better your financial health. Not only can they extend you valuable credit to purchase necessary goods or services, but they can provide attractive rewards that can be used for meals and vacations.

That said, for first-time credit card users, credit cards can be intimidating. It’s easy to hear horror stories about how credit cards have destroyed an individual’s financial livelihood or have led to massive interest charges that are essentially inescapable.

Because of this, it’s worth your time to learn some first principles and key tips so that you can safely use a credit card. By following this advice, you can get the most out of your credit card and safeguard your financial health—whether you are a first-time credit card user in the UAE or anywhere else.

Some Key Tips and Strategies on Safe Credit Card Use Before looking at any type of credit card, it is critical to ensure that you have a steady income. While credit cards can be immensely rewarding, you can only obtain those immense rewards if you can pay off your balance.

Without a steady income, it becomes difficult to pay off that credit card balance. The longer that you don’t pay off your balance, the more that you will be paying to your credit card company. Even if you are just making minimum payments, hefty interest expenses can be extremely costly. Double-digit interest rates can quickly add up. Therefore, before signing up, make sure that you will have consistent enough income to pay off your monthly statements. By doing so, you will avoid a very ugly financial situation.

Next, you want to make sure you are signing up for the right credit card. As similar as credit cards may seem, they offer different terms and rewards. You will certainly want to review your potential interest rate and any penalties that will come from late payments. Beyond the negative aspects, however, you will want to take a close look at your unique spend and your targeted credit card’s rewards.

Rewards are some of the best parts of using a credit card. All credit cards offer points that you can then exchange for rewards, but credit cards offers different exchange rates for certain things. For instance, one credit card may offer slightly more points for restaurant and dining spending and another may offer slightly more points for booking flights. You’ll want to read the fine print and sign up for a card that gives you more points for your common expenses.

Associated with this, try to avoid free credit cards. By free credit cards, we mean credit cards that do not have annual fees. This is for several reasons. For one thing, free cards may not be best from a savings perspective. They tend to have higher interest rates, so you may end up paying more if you don’t pay off your card in full. Along with this, cards with annual fees tend to offer better rewards. These cash-back rewards can be substantial and may even eclipse the amount that you pay in your card’s annual fee. While the initial payment may be annoying or frustrating, chances are that you will get much more value through a card with a fee, rather than a free card.

From avoiding free credit cards, you’ll next want to understand the eligibility requirements for your chosen card. For as great as a credit card may be for you, you may not meet its eligibility requirements. As just one simple example, in the UAE, a minimum of AED 5,000 to qualify for a credit card. However, different types of cards cater to different income segments, so you will want to read the fine print to see if you qualify. By reading the fine print now rather than waiting to do so after you submit your application, you won’t waste time and will find the best credit card for you.

You will also want to make sure that you are collecting and providing all necessary documents to complete your credit card application. This may vary depending on the credit card and application that you submit. However, you will need to provide identification documents like an Emirates ID (in the UAE), passport, and/or visa. You may also need to offer additional documents like income certificates, bank statements, payslips, and more. If you work for a small employer or a relatively new company, the bank may need to perform an employer visit or telephone verification.

What does this mean for you? Ultimately, make sure that you have this type of information at the ready. By having it in your vicinity before you start the process, you will make your life easier.

Another key tip is to avoid getting too close to your credit limit. Every credit card user has something called a credit utilization ratio. This is essentially the percentage of outstanding credit that is available to you.

There is a fine line here. The basic rule is that you should the lower your credit utilization ratio, the better. A high credit utilization ratio can harm your credit score. However, that should not stop you from responsibility using your credit card. You should follow your best judgment here and find a credit utilization ratio that meets your needs and does not harm your credit score.

Finally, be patient. While it can be tremendously exciting getting a new credit card, you don’t necessarily want to jump at the first opportunity. Make sure that you are looking at several different types of credit cards. At the very least, you should do some Internet research on those specific cards to see if one suits you over another. Also, don’t hesitate to call the specific credit card company to find answers to any questions you may have. By being patient and completing your due diligence, you can make this experience much easier.

Getting Started on Your Credit Card Journey Getting your first credit card can be intimidating, yet exciting. There are risks but they can be mitigated. By following the tips and advice above, you will be in an excellent position to responsibly use your new credit card.

Five Reasons to Consider Doing a Balance Transfer on Your Credit Card The sudden rise of COVID-19 has presented varying degrees of economic stress among UAE residents. Institutions like the UAE Central Bank and some of the UAE’s biggest banks have acted swiftly to relieve some of this unexpected, yet very real financial pressure. Yet even with that assistance, this is a great time for all UAE residents to take a hard look at their current finances.

There are several ways that you can proceed, but we believe that one of the first things you should do is closely look at the balances on your credit cards. For many of us, our credit card balances are some of our highest payments per month. While we may be able to pay off our monthly credit card balances during “normal times, COVID-19 this increased time of uncertainty may make those payments much more difficult.

If you are feeling this type of financial pressure, you may want to seriously consider something called a balance transfer. Balance transfers, put simply, let you move high-interest debt onto another credit card that has a lower interest rate. By doing this, you can keep some of your hard-earned money in your pocket.

To better understand the power of balance transfers, we want to highlight five reasons why you should consider them. Whether one or all of the reasons resonate with you, we believe balance transfers can be compelling options in this era of COVID-19.

The first reason to go forward with a balance transfer centers on your current credit card interest payments. Simply put, balance transfers can temporarily eliminate a high annual percentage rate on your current credit card, allowing more of your payment to go toward your principal. If you are in deep credit card debt, this is a huge deal. A significantly lower (or even zero) interest rate means that you are getting significantly closer toward a zero balance. Therefore, even if there is a small fee to complete a balance transfer, a lower APR may be worth it.

Directly tied with lower interest payments is the ability to save cash in the long run. It’s pretty simple. Allocating more of your monthly payment to your debt outstanding rather than interest is going to keep more cash in your pocket. It is a substantial step on your way toward financial freedom. A balance transfer can offer that unique opportunity, letting you have a few key months where you can make your outstanding principal more manageable.

Balance transfers can also be a great idea because they may be able to raise your credit score. The effect isn’t direct, but there are some ways that your credit score can be improved with a balance transfer. Most notably, it can reduce your credit utilization ratio. This is assuming that you don’t close your old credit card account. Along with paying off your principal, you may see a bump in your overall credit score.

Fourth, a balance transfer can help you build good habits and instill discipline. One primary reason why borrowers seek balance transfers is to obtain some breathing room from overbearing interest payments and debt. Balance transfers can provide this, but they also provide great opportunities to get into great financial habits. For instance, paying down your balance every month and spending less than you make are terrific habits to build.

Finally, credit card balance transfers can make you happier. They can provide both short-term and long-term financial relief. By capitalizing on this relief and getting a better hold over your finances, you’ll feel happier and less stressed. This is a real benefit—especially as we are living through COVID-19.

A Compelling Option These are just some of the benefits of credit card balance transfers. Granted, you will want to read the fine print and find a balance transfer that makes the most sense for you. Some balance transfer arrangements have a low (or zero) APR, but ramp up significantly after several months or if you miss one payment.

Even so, balance transfers can be a valuable tool in personal finance. Whether or not you choose to use this tool, we encourage you to do your research. You may find that a balance transfer is just the thing you need to get your financial freedom.

Soulwallet is a personal finance comparison portal in the UAE. With a team of “out of the box” thinkers and a deep understanding of the UAE consumer banking industry, we help customers make the best choices while shopping for financial products such as credit cards and loans.

Read more here : https://www.soulwallet.com/

#BestCreditCardstoGetin2021

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piersevenaviation · 28 days

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#Aviation Training Sharjah #Pilot training Sharjah #EASA-approved training institute #DGCA-approved training institute #Aviation training Sharjah #Flight school Sharjah #Pilot license Sharjah #Airline pilot training Sharjah #Flight training academy Sharjah #Commercial pilot training Sharjah #Professional pilot training Sharjah #Flight simulator training Sharjah #Pilot career development Sharjah

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scribblesoul-20 · 3 months

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Job title: Secondary Maths Teachers - Sharjah UAE Company: Edvectus Job description: SECONDARY MATHS TEACHERS NEEDED IN SHARJAH - AUGUST 2024 MALE AND FEMALE - AED 15500 / month (for 2 year experienced teacher) and upwards - Furnished apartment near to school - Flights yearly (for employee only) - Utility allowance - International medical insurance (for employee and dependents) - Medical insurance for spouse + 2 dependent children - Lower cost of living than Dubai but it's only 20-30 mins away This KG to Grade 12 Private English medium international school is looking for teachers for the next school year. Applicants must have qualified teacher status, at least 2 years post qualifying experience due to Ministry regulations and must be able and willing to work in a cultural 100% ESL learning environment. American Curriculum experience (common core preferred) is also valued. Teachers should be able to demonstrate a strong academic background in content knowledge, be collaborative and collegial, value the use of data to drive instruction, be assessment literate, be skilled at differentiating and engaging students, be able to utilise effective instructional strategies and be technologically proficient. It is important to note that this is not a western expatriate schools and many students are local from the UAE. Combining the US core standards curriculum with a delivery through the philosophy of IB without the scope and sequence, the school blends the best of both worlds of a traditional American approach of text books and regular testing and a more student centred perspective. The ultimate goal is to eventually attain IB world school status retaining the American element so students can graduate with a US diploma and if they meet with the criteria and IB diploma too. Advanced Placement course are also available. The school offers a monthly tax free salary of AED12100 for a two year experienced teacher with annual increments for every two years of experience. There are also allowances for utility bills and excess baggage, international medical insurance is provided as well as annual airfares, end of service gratuity, local bus transportation. Accommodation is provided as part of the employment package; it is furnished and not shared. If you believe that this opportunity matches the ideals of your overseas teaching aspirations then please do not hesitate to contact your local Edvectus advisor today. We look forward to hearing from you. Expected salary: 15500 - 20861 per month Location: Sharjah Job date: Thu, 29 Feb 2024 23:16:36 GMT Apply for the job now!

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huntjames · 5 months

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Unleash Your Child's Potential: A Stellar Education Awaits at Manthena American School in Sharjah.

Sharjah, a vibrant tapestry of culture and opportunity, offers countless choices for parents seeking an exceptional education for their children. But nestled amidst the bustling scene stands a beacon of academic excellence and holistic development: Manthena American School (MAS).

MAS isn't just another school; it's a launchpad for dreams. Imagine your child, surrounded by passionate educators, delving into the intricacies of American literature, unraveling the mysteries of science through interactive experiments, and mastering the complexities of calculus under the gentle guidance of experienced mentors. At MAS, learning transcends textbooks, transforming into an invigorating journey of discovery.

Beyond academics, MAS fosters global citizenship. Its diverse student body, hailing from over 50 nationalities, creates a microcosm of the world, where cultural understanding and respect are woven into the very fabric of school life. Imagine your child not only excelling in math and science but also learning to celebrate Eid alongside classmates, participating in vibrant Diwali festivities, and understanding the richness of Chinese New Year traditions. This embrace of multiculturalism equips MAS graduates with the empathy and adaptability to navigate an increasingly interconnected world.

But MAS isn't just about academics and global awareness; it's about nurturing young minds and hearts. Imagine a school where creativity explodes in art studios, where athleticism takes flight on pristine sports fields, and where leadership skills blossom through student council initiatives. This commitment to holistic development ensures that every child's unique talents are recognized and nurtured, preparing them not just for academic success but for a fulfilling life beyond the classroom.

Ready to give your child the gift of an American education infused with the warmth of Sharjah's cultural tapestry? Contact School in Sharjah today and schedule a tour. Witness firsthand the vibrant learning environment, meet the passionate educators, and discover how MAS can help your child reach for the stars and embrace the world.

#internationalschool #americancurriculum #schoolnearme #schoolinuae #schooladmission #student #education.

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kwttoday · 3 years

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UAE: Sharjah nurseries will not admit new students on school reopening

UAE: Sharjah nurseries will not admit new students on school reopening Government nurseries in Sharjah will not admit new pupils when schools reopen for physical learning during the new academic year, which begins in September, authorities have announced. Read- UAE: IndiGo cancels flights until August 24 The Sharjah Education Council said government nurseries will reopen for in-class lessons…

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#UAE #uae covid news #uae expat news #UAE: Sharjah nurseries will not admit new students on school reopening

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armeniaitn · 3 years

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Virtual Exhibition Highlighting Diasporan Armenian Responses to Occupied Artsakh Launched in April

New Post has been published on https://armenia.in-the.news/culture/virtual-exhibition-highlighting-diasporan-armenian-responses-to-occupied-artsakh-launched-in-april-72970-04-05-2021/

Virtual Exhibition Highlighting Diasporan Armenian Responses to Occupied Artsakh Launched in April

“Sites of Fracture: Diasporic “Imaginings of Occupied Artsakh” exhibition launched on April 19

GLENDALE—Glendale Library Arts & Culture and ReflectSpace Gallery present “Sites of Fracture: Diasporic Imaginings of Occupied Artsakh,” a virtual exhibition that brings together diasporan Armenian artists—from the United States, Canada, and Germany—to build collective counter-narratives to the forces of occupation and cultural erasure in the Republic of Artsakh. The exhibition launched on April 19.

In September 2020, the autocratic state of Azerbaijan invaded the Republic of Artsakh and initiated an campaign of ethnic cleansing targeting its Indigenous Armenian population. With a vastly out-financed military and direct support from Turkey, Azerbaijan succeeded in occupying large swaths of Artsakh. In the process, thousands lost their lives and 100,000 Armenians were displaced from their ancestral homes.

The global Armenian diaspora was gripped by the collective trauma of watching a campaign of ethnic cleansing unfold via digital screens and televisual transmissions. As Indigenous Armenian heritage faced systematic destruction, a cadre of diasporan Armenian artists responded with projects that counter the attempted erasure of Armenian identities, histories, and cultural artifacts.

Artists and cultural workers in the exhibit include Kamee Abrahamian, Ali Cat/Entangled Roots Press, Silvina Der-Meguerditchian, Naré Mkrtchyan, Nelli Sargsyan, She Loves Collective, Scout Tufankjian, Anahid Yahjian and Yerazad Coalition.

“Sites of Fracture” also gestures towards the repatriation of ancestral lands. The virtual exhibition takes place in the photographically reconstructed fortress of the city of Shushi—Artsakh’s historical cultural capital, now occupied by Azerbaijan. In the process, “Sites of Fracture” imagines decolonized futures for Shushi, envisioning an independent Republic of Artsakh wherein Indigenous communities exercise the right to have been granted the right to self-governance and cultural autonomy.

“Sites of Fracture: Diasporic Imaginings of Occupied Artsakh” is co-curated by Mashinka Firunts Hakopian, Ara Oshagan, and Anahid Oshagan and is part of the Glendale Library Arts & Culture’s Armenian Genocide Remembrance Month. The exhibition launches on April 19 in a 3D virtual gallery accessible through the ReflectSpace Gallery website: www.reflectspace.org.

“Sites of Fracture” is also part of the Glendale Library Arts & Culture’s “Be the Change” series focuses on: Inclusion – Diversity – Equity – Antiracism. “Be The Change” events will build collective understanding of systemic racism, elevate the voices and stories of BIPOC, and inspire our community to be the change. “Be The Change” is sponsored by the City of Glendale, California Arts and Culture Commission, with funding from the City of Glendale Urban Art Fund.

ReflectSpace Gallery at the Glendale Central Library opened in 2017 when the library reopened after a major renovation. It came at the behest of The Glendale City Council for a city space to address the Armenian Genocide and other human atrocities. ReflectSpace is an exhibition space designed to explore and reflect on genocides, human and civil rights violations. Immersive in conception, ReflectSpace is a hybrid space that exhibits contemporary art as well as archives, employing installation, technology and interactive media to engage viewers on an emotional and personal level. ReflectSpace strives to reflect the past and present of Glendale’s communal fabric and interrogate current-day global human rights issues.

Kamee Abrahamian is a supreme hyphenate who arrives in the world today as an interdisciplinary writer-artist-producer-performer-organizer and a non-binary, queer-feminist caregiver. They grew up in an immigrant suburb of Toronto and was born into an Armenian family displaced from the SWANA region. Kamee’s work is steeped with relational and generative practices oriented towards ancestral reclamation, visionary fiction, and diasporic futurism. They hold a BFA/BA in film and political science (Concordia University), an MA in expressive art therapy (European Graduate Institute), and a PhD (ABD) in community liberation, indigenous and eco psychologies (Pacifica Graduate Institute). Kamee has published plays, literary and academic writing, while organizing and presenting films, artwork, staged performances and workshops internationally. Recent projects worth mention are “Ensouled,” “Hok Danil,” “Transmission,” and “Dear Armen.”

Ali Cat/Entangled Roots Press is an artist and print maker living on unceded Cowlitz, Multnomah and Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde land at the confluence of two rivers, also known as Portland, Oregon. She produces her work under the name Entangled Roots Press. Her prints mingle the literal and metaphorical to illuminate and comment upon the world around us. Relief, screen, and letterpress prints span from the carnage of clear-cuts to the beauty of peoples movements. Ali’s prints pull from ancestral herstories and push towards liberatory futures; entangling lessons from gardens, symbols in coffee cups, woven threads from Armenia and Euskal Herria, to the printed page. Ali received her BFA at Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland. She completed an artist-residency at Proyecto’ace in Buenos Aires in 2014, and was a member of Flight 64, a member-run, nonprofit print studio, from 2015 to 2018. Ali currently works as the Print Studio Technician at PNCA.

Silvina Der-Meguerditchian, born in Buenos Aires, lives and works in Berlin. Her work explores themes of belonging, the role of minorities in society, and the potential of an “in-between” space. Memory and working with archives are the focus of her artistic exploration. She is the artistic director of the Houshamadyan project, a multimedia memory book for Armenian Ottoman history. Silvina Der-Meguerditchian was a fellow at the Tarabya Academy of Culture in 2014/15. In the summer of 2015, she participated in Armenity, the Armenian pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale, which was awarded the Golden Lion for the best national representation. In the fall of 2015, she curated the exhibition “ENKEL, new geographies of belonging” in Istanbul. Since 2014, she has worked with “Women mobilizing memory,” a group of artists, writers, museologists, social activists, and memory and memorial scholars working internationally. In 2020, her film “The Wishing Tree” was awarded with a Special Mention at the Sharjah Film Platform. Her first personal catalog with VFMK (Verlag für Moderne Kunst) has just been published in January 2021.

Naré Mkrtchyan was born in Armenia and raised in Los Angeles. She is a graduate of University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. She has written, directed and produced over sixty projects, including her latest which was a Netflix original. Her documentary The Other Side of Home remains the only Armenian Genocide film to be shortlisted for Oscar. Her passion is telling unique human stories that connect people and move beyond the boundaries of nationality, gender, and religion.

Nelli Sargsyan is an associate professor of anthropology at Emerson College, Boston, MA. As a feminist, Sargsyan situates herself at the disciplinary intersections of political anthropology, queer studies, and critical race studies, among others. In her scholarly-poetic work and teaching Sargsyan is interested in stretching disciplinary and genre boundaries to explore the multi-sensory possibilities of feminist world-making. Most recently she has been interested in political work that cultivates feminist consciousness and collective care, whether it be through direct street action, public performance, or feminist fabulation. Sargsyan’s work has appeared in academic journals such as “Feminist Formations, History and Anthropology,” and “Feminist Anthropology,” as well as on online platforms such as “ARTMargins,” “Public Seminar,” and “Socioscope.”

SheLovesCollective is an alliance of women artists who share a strong belief in the power of creating social change through art. On October 11th, 2020 the collective launched a performance art piece entitled, The Rifles Our Ancestors Didn’t Have in response to the war that reignited on September 27, 2020 in the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh.

Scout Tufankjian has spent the bulk of her career working in the Middle East, but is best known for her work documenting both of Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns. Her book on the 2007 to 2008 campaign, “Yes We Can: Barack Obama’s History-Making Presidential Campaign” was a New York Times and LA Times bestseller. Her second book, “There is Only the Earth: Images from the Armenian Diaspora Project,” is the culmination of six years documenting Armenian communities in over 20 different countries. More recently, she has worked for the HALO Trust in Nagorno-Karabakh and Angola, and has served as a temporary acting director of Committee to Protect Journalists’s Emergency Response Team. She is a two-time TUMO Workshop leader, in Yerevan and Stepanakert, and continues to work as a freelance photographer and as a consultant for both RISC Training and Committee to Protect Journalists. More of her work can be seen on her website.

Anahid Yahjian is an independent writer, director and producer of experimental, documentary and narrative cinema. Her commitment to telling true stories (even if they come from her imagination) was shaped by an early love for visual storytelling that was formalized in college and took flight during her coming of age in Armenia. There, she produced the internationally-awarded narrative short 140 Drams (Camerimage, Clermont-Ferrand 2013), laid the creative groundwork for the feature documentary Spiral (IDFA Bertha Fund 2015, Golden Apricot 2017) and shot and directed the viral digital documentary LEVON: A Wondrous Life (2013). Since returning to her native Los Angeles, she shot and directed the experimental cine-triptych, Corpus Callosum (2014-2016) and directed the narrative science-fiction short Transmission (BFI Flare, Vancouver QFF 2019). She splits her time between Yerevan, Sofia (her birthplace), Los Angeles (her home), and New York City.

Yerazad Coalition is an action coalition dedicated to Armenian liberation and building transnational solidarity. Yerazad’s work encompasses policy action, coalition building, and environmental justice. Its core members include Carene Rose Mekertichyan, Joel Mardirossian, Joy Mardirossian, Brian Damerau, and Arya Jamal.

Read original article here.

#Armenia #Armenians #Artsakh #Karabakh #Yerevan #Culture

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expatimes · 3 years

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The life and career of Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s cricket prodigy

The life and career of Afghanistan cricketer Rashid Khan has seen the theatrical treatment: The curtains parted one day and there he was.

Among a cast of romantic, colourful cricketers from the country’s fairy tale, stood the teen prodigy, the one player ready-made for the biggest stage.

Online profiles feature Rashid’s One-Day International (ODI) debut at the age of 17, the 25 teams he has represented in various formats, his admiration for Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi, that whippy, whirly action, dead-eye wrong ’un, striking ability with the bat, athleticism in the field and the ICC T20 Player of the Decade title, even though he played in only half of it.

But what about the other parts of the man that was known as Rashid Arman, the sixth of 11 brothers? The dreamer who thought he would become the family’s first doctor? The computer science student with beautiful handwriting? The part-time English teacher? The boy who was called “Peshawari” in Afghanistan’s local cricket and “muhajir” (refugee) during his college days in Peshawar, Pakistan?

There are bits that make up his life from Bati Kot to Peshawar and back to Afghanistan’s Jalalabad then Kabul, before his October 2015 ODI debut in Bulawayo – on his way to becoming Rashid Khan, the superstar.

In the life of every cricketer, there are family, coaches and teammates who watch their rise with a mix of emotions: Love, pride, delight, among lashings of envy.

We begin with a story from Inzamam-ul-Haq, the former Pakistan captain who was Afghanistan coach from October 2015 to April 2016.

Looking at a list of his squad for a 2016 tour of Sharjah, Haq noted Rashid’s omission.

While Rashid’s performance in Bulawayo had not been earth-shattering, he – out of the roster of leg-spinners Haq had first called out and tried – had impressed.

So much so that Haq ended the arguments with selectors by saying: “Only after Rashid is in the team can you talk to me about other things.”

Six years later, Rashid’s name is first on every Afghanistan team sheet.

These days, Rashid is in Abu Dhabi for the Test series against Zimbabwe.

In the touring party is senior team manager Nazeem Jar Abdulrahimzai, who, in his many past roles in Afghanistan cricket remembers 2012 as the year he first met Rashid.

At a provincial Twenty20 match in Kabul, playing for a club called Kochian, Abdulrahimzai watched an unknown teenager, of small built, batting like a dervish.

“He was opening, he scored 93. When he bowled, no one could read him. It hit the legs, bowled. It hit the pads, LBW. It’s like they couldn’t see,” said Abdulrahimzai. “I had not seen a boy like that.”

Rashid had been spotted, marked for attention and encouragement.

Abdulrahimzai started emailing regional teams, asking them to try Rashid out, pushing those who hesitated.

“Listen, I’m the domestic manager, you take him, give him training and a trial. If you’re happy with him, fine. If you’re not, he can come back.”

Khan won the ICC T20 Player of the Decade title, even though he played in only half of it

In 2013, Afghanistan set up the Shpageeza Cricket League, which was to become its national T20 competition, one of the many steps Rashid would take on his meandering odyssey.

That year, at Peshawar’s Arbab Niaz Stadium, Islamia College Coach Ali Hoti was approached by a teenager who introduced himself as Rashid Arman and said he wanted to join the college and its famous cricket programme.

Islamia College alumni have represented Pakistan in various sports. Among its celebrated cricketers are Haseeb Ehsan, Yasir Hamid, Wajahatullah Wasti and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

When Hoti and team captain Sajjad Hashmi saw the youngster’s clean-hitting with the bat and his unorthodoxy with the ball, they knew they had spotted a winner.

But at the trials for the university’s sports quota admissions, the young man was missing. He had had to dash over to Afghanistan to play in a tournament.

This to and fro was due to Rashid’s nomadic boyhood, often as part of a business family alongside 10 brothers.

Cricket, the constant

During a period of uncertainty and war, as the family moved between towns on the border, cricket remained the only constant.

Rashid’s skills were homemade, on the concrete strip inside the housing compound meant for parking cars, in taped tennis ball contests with his brothers, especially brother number two, a football fan.

Once, so furious at being done in by Rashid, his brother wrapped extra tape on the tennis ball only for Rashid to get past him again.

The brothers were competitive but protective. Abdulrahimzai remembers one of Rashid’s brothers Jalil, sitting next to him during an early under-19 match, asking: “What will become of this boy? Of Rashid?”

If he had asked Rashid, he would have been shown him the road map.

At Islamia, Hoti said Rashid enrolled for a computer science degree from 2013 and the formalised structure of cricket training and competition.

Team captain Hashmi befriended the quiet, new entrant and saw what Abdulrahimzai had seen: Presence and confidence.

Hashmi, a former opener-wicketkeeper who played domestic cricket in Pakistan, said Rashid immersed himself in cricket, barely spoke and never complained.

“As college captain, players come and argue their case: Why did you bowl me so late, why can’t I bat in this position. With Rashid, nothing,” said Hashmi.

On one occasion, Rashid was dropped due to a dispute in the team and Hashmi went to his home to make peace.

“The next time I went to the ground, he was there. With his cones, doing his training and shuttle runs,” said Hashmi.

“Others might have gone into a sulk, but he knew what he had to do and wasn’t going to stop. Rashid didn’t waste time, he was driven and completely focused. It was like inside, his real talents were hidden, waiting for their time.”

Rashid’s batting, especially his clean hitting, added to his prowess as a world-class cricketer

Within three years, the world would see those talents.

We must turn to Abdulrahimzai’s Urdu to understand what Rashid’s on-field manner reflected: “Haawi rehna” (domination) and what Abdulrahimzai never saw in him: “Bebasi” (helplessness).

In collegiate and inter-university cricket, Hashmi said Rashid earned the reputation of being the spinner all batsmen thought best to see off.

Hoti is now director of sports at what is now Islamia University and recalls Rashid’s “zabardast” handwriting and the pressure from home to study.

“Rashid was a good student, a thinker. He would try to speak in English, practice it every day, along with his Pashto and Urdu.”

Rashid once said in an interview that he taught English for about six months before cricket took over as he prepared himself for a life beyond college and the towns he called home.

The variations

Rashid’s first cricketing schools – the restrictive and demanding surface of the concrete corridors in his family’s many homes – gave him the fast-arm action to get extra zip on the taped tennis ball.

Flipping the ball out off his fingers – who said wrist-spinners must only use their wrists? – he sent it whirring through the air, rushing the batsmen on concrete, matting, turf, anything.

Where conventional spinners use variations of pace, loop and flight to judge what works best where, Khan’s pace – more than 90km/h (56mph) – is his fundamental staple.

He said he has five grips to choose from during a game… and three googlies.

“Shahid Afridi was my role model while growing up in Afghanistan”. (Rashid Khan) Inspiration of many.❤️@SAfridiOfficial Thank you Lala.#BoomBoom pic.twitter.com/31Y1pyvuwA

— Zain Zahid (@ZainZahid____10) March 9, 2021

To most batsmen, the range is not the issue. Rather, it is the sameness of what everything looks like that leads to befuddlement over what is going to arrive.

As Haq described it, the batsmen’s lack “response time” to react to a ball that not only turns, but turns at speed.

It was not those skills alone that marked Rashid in Haq’s eyes.

On his debut tour in Zimbabwe, Rashid sat out the first ODI. Before the second, Haq told him to bowl at him in the nets.

“If I’m out, you’re in,” he said.

Rashid failed to dismiss his coach but remembers beating him once.

“Even if I had got out to him, it would’ve been fine, that’s the quality of bowler he is. I would have played him, but I wanted to see how he would respond,” Haq said.

What happened before their exchange had revealed more to Rashid.

“When I challenged Rashid, the 17-year-old looked me in the eyes and said ‘haanji, theek hai, aayein net main’ ,” said Haq with a chuckle.

Rashid’s game was always going to be on.

Read full article: https://expatimes.com/?p=18875&feed_id=36713

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