1986 - An artificial strip was laid on the cemented surface at Sharjah cricket ground for the much awaited match between Sunil Gavaskar’s XI and Javed Miandad’s XI promised to be a high-scoring one. Called Recticel and manufactured in Bradford, the green pitch matched in colour the grassy outfield, which will be part of the cricket stadium for the historic game. The pitch should offer adequate bounce to new-ball bowlers, especially Imran Khan and Kapil Dev, but not much pace. But overall, batsmen will have an edge and the side able to score faster should carry the day. The synthetic strip was tested by beneficiary Asif Iqbal by batting and bowling. He called it ideal for one-day cricket and hoped Test players would also find it to their liking
Other important events
1882 - The Knights of Columbus is founded in Connecticut.
1849 - Britain annexes Punjab in India through a treaty with the Maharaja of Lahore.
1867 - British parliament passes the North America Act to create the Dominion of Canada.
1901 - Australia’s first federal elections are held, with Labour Party winning power.
1967 - France launches its first nuclear submarine.
1973 - The last US troops leave South Vietnam.
1989 - Palestine Liberation Organisation Executive Committee nominates Yasser Arafat as President.
1990 - Prime Minister Bob Hawke leads Labour to a record fourth successive term in government after Australia’s closest election for 30 years.
1991 - General H. Norman Schwarzkopf publicly apologises to President George Bush for questioning his judgement about calling a ceasefire in the Gulf War.
1993 - UAE government issues a decree to set up the UAE Federal Environmental Authority.
1994 - Media mogul Silvio Berlusconi wins a stunning victory in Italy’s general elections.
2002 - Israeli troops storm into Yasser Arafat’s headquarters in Ramallah, West Bank.
2004 - Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia join Nato.
2006 - Hamas formally takes over the Palestinian government.
2011 - Australia’s Ricky Ponting steps down as cricket captain.
2012 - HSBC Bank Middle East announces the acquisition of Lloyds Banking Group’s UAE operations worth $769 million (Dh2.82 million).
2015 - Australia wins the Cricket World Cup 2015 trophy.
