Dubai, Apr. 22 : Australian cricketers have welcomed Andrew Symonds back into their fold despite his poor form, both on and off the field.

Australia''s acting skipper Michael Clarke said the way Symonds played in his comeback series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates would be vital to his future prospects.

And Clarke said it was up to the all-rounder to decide whether he also needed to prove anything off the field, after several recent disciplinary lapses resulted in him being removed from the team to undergo counselling.

Melbourne, Apr 20 : Australia’s captain for the Dubai series, Michael Clarke, has said that his team’s main focus will be on improving their batting during the one-day international series against Pakistan.

Clarke leads a squad without regular captain Ricky Ponting, strike bowler Mitchell Johnson and middle order batsman Mike Hussey, all being rested ahead of the Twenty20 world championship and Ashes campaign.

The Australian squad assembled in Dubai ahead of the tour-opener on Wednesday with Clarke predicting that Pakistan will prove a difficult opponent in their first ODI clashes in more than four years.

Seamec Ltd, a subsidiary of Cof lexip Stena Offshore (Mauritius) Ltd., has signed a contract with a Dubai firm, Dulam International, to deploy one of its vessels for twelve months for $16.12 million.

The contract will commence around mid-June 2009.

Apart from the latest order, the company has also bagged a $4.47 million contract for deployment of vessel in Persian Gulf.

The Charter will commence effective from May 16, 2009.

Seamec Ltd. primarily provides support services, including marine, construction, and diving services to offshore oilfields in India and internationally. It operates three vessels: SEAMEC 1, SEAMEC 2, and SEAMEC 3.

Dubai, April 17 : In a major setback to Pakistan Cricket Board, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday decided not to hold any match of the 2011 World Cup in Pakistan.

During an important ICC meet held in Dubai today, it was decided that no world cup match could be held in Pakistan, following a uncertain political and security situation prevailing in that country.

The decision is anticipated to cost Pakistan Cricket Board an approximate loss of 800,000 to 100,000 dollars.

Washington, Apr 16 : Barbadian singer Rihanna is set to return to the stage for her first performance since her altercation with Chris Brown by performing in a concert in Dubai.

The ‘Umbrella’ star’s concert will be taking place on May 28, though the location is yet to be disclosed.

“There will be over 25,000 tickets available,” E! Online quoted Mary Rachelle Cherpak, a spokeswoman for Dubai Tourism, as saying.

“They will be going on sale in the next couple of days,” she said.

As for the location of the concert, Cherpak says it will most likely be a designer outdoor venue.

Dubai - Scientists in Dubai have created the world's first cloned camel, a local newspaper reported Tuesday. Injaz, or "Achievement," was born at 4:30 pm on April 8, as a healthy female calf, the Emirati daily The National reported on Tuesday. She is the first cloned camel.

Injaz is the result of five years of work by scientists at the Camel Reproduction Centre and the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory in research into strains of camels for racing and milk production.