UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed passes away
Dubai(PTI): UAE President and ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan passed away on Friday, local media reports quoting the Ministry of Presidential Affairs said. He was 73.
"The Ministry of Presidential Affairs condoles the people of the UAE, the Arab and Islamic nation and the world over the demise of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the UAE, a WAM news agency said in a statement.
Sheikh Khalifa served as the President of the UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi since November 3, 2004.
The Ministry of Presidential Affairs has announced 40 days of mourning for the passing of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, the Khaleej Times reported.
Flags will be flown at half-mast and ministries, departments, federal and local institutions will suspend work starting Friday, it said.
He was elected to succeed his father, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who served as the UAE's first president since the union in 1971 until he passed away on November 2, 2004.
Born in 1948, Sheikh Khalifa was the second President of the UAE and the 16th Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. He was the eldest son of Sheikh Zayed.
Since becoming the president of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa has presided over a major restructuring of both the Federal Government and the government of Abu Dhabi.
Under his reign, the UAE witnessed an accelerated development that ensured decent living for the people calling the country home.
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I wanted to take on England's best bowler as others too will feel pressure: Tilak on Archer assault
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Chennai (PTI): India's middle-order batter Tilak Varma said his breathtaking assault on pacer Jofra Archer in the second T20I here was pre-planned and was intended to neutralise England's best bowler, which in turn demoralised the rest of the pack.
Tilak, who made an unbeaten 72 off 55 balls, creamed Archer for four sixes, including a scarcely believable pick-up flick over deep fine leg, as the Sussex man leaked 60 runs in his four overs at Chepauk on Saturday.
"I wanted to target their best bowler. If you take on the best bowler, other bowlers will be under pressure. So, when the wickets are falling (at the other end), I want to take on their best bowlers," Tilak said in the post-match press conference.
"If I do that it makes it easier (for other batters). So, I backed myself and took chances against him and also whatever shots that I have played against Archer, I have worked in the nets, mentally I was ready for them. So it has given me a good result," he added.
Tilak said he was mentally prepared to stay till the end and was ready to tweak his game according to the team's needs.
"I said (to myself) that whatever happens, I will be staying till the end, and I wanted to finish the game. I had a chat with Gautam (Gambhir) sir during the last match. I can play with a strike-rate of 6 or 7 or above 10, as per the team's requirement. He also said during the drinks break (here). It is a time that you can show the people that you can play both type of innings. Happy that it paid off," he said.
The 22-year-old showed immense calculation to use the pace of the English pacers and found gap with surgical precision to accumulate runs without taking much risk.
The Hyderabadi then gave an elaborate peek into his game plan at the MAChidambaram Stadium.
"The wicket was double-paced and quite challenging. With the kind of pace (England bowlers were bowling), it will be tough to hit square of the wicket.
"So, I just wanted to use the pace and hit as much as I can behind (in the V behind the wicketkeeper). So, that's what I have done and it has given me success," he said.
India won the match by two wickets to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
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