Latest news with #SarfarazAhmed
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Hyderabad to adopt ‘land pooling' and Local Area Development Planning to revolutionise HMDA functioning
Transformational shifts are on the cards in the urban development approach in Telangana, with the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority setting out to introduce Local Area Development Planning (LADP) coupled with a Comprehensive Land Pooling Policy for better urban planning. Metropolitan Commissioner Sarfaraz Ahmed in a lengthy interaction on Saturday, said both the policies are aimed at addressing chronic issues such as non-availability of land for organised open spaces, public utilities, social infrastructure and low-cost housing. LADP, which exists in several other States, was not adopted in Telangana due to availability of vast tracts of open land in Hyderabad and surroundings. It involves HMDA in micro-level planning, instead of confining to designing Master Plans. 'As part of Master Plan, the plan area is divided into one to 1.2 square kilometre grid, and roads and other facilities are planned around each of the grids. Planning each grid, consisting of 250 to 300 acres of land, is not taken care of so far, leaving several plots without access roads. LADP envisions intensive planning inside each grid, leading to more organised development,' Mr. Ahmed said. It will also help planners to earmark spaces for public utilities, parks, schools and hospitals, besides providing pedestrian infrastructure. Town planning legislations have provisions for the LADP, but it has so far been neglected in the undivided Andhra Pradesh and Telangana too. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has given in-principle approval for the proposal giving the urban development authority a nod for appointing a consultant for the same. Land pooling policy which is in the drafting stage, involves enforcement instead of the existing consent-based approach. It is being modelled after the policy adopted by the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) of Andhra Pradesh, and requires certain amendments with regard to resumption of assigned lands in lieu of developed plots. Mr. Ahmed shared that three to four tenders are lined up in the month of June respectively for LADP, mapping of the Telangana Core Urban Region, reorganisation of HMDA based on the other similarly sized UDAs in terms of structures and processes, and restructuring of all processes to fit into the new system. Mr. Ahmed also dwelt upon the reasons for delay in launching of works for various projects including the elevated corridors on National Highway 44 and on the State Highway 1, citing bureaucratic delays in land survey under different Defence wings, permissions from Director General of Civil Aviation, and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, a simulation study to be done by IIT Hyderabad for one of the two under tunnels, and procedure to be followed in property acquisition. 'We are also applying the Relief & Rehabilitation provision of the Land Acquisition Act, in order to preclude future complications and court cases,' Mr. Ahmed said, adding that the works may be grounded in the first week of August. Speaking about the radial road connecting the Outer Ring Road with the Regional Ring Road he said the project ran into legal wrangles, and due to stay orders issued from the High Court, the price bid has not been opened, which has stalled the tendering process. Forest permissions too are still in the pipeline, he informed.
![Updated: May 31, 2025 01:48 IST Canterbury [UK], May 31 (ANI): Karun Nair's redemption arc is bound to continue on Day 2 after he shattered](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fshabiba.eu-central-1.linodeobjects.com%2F2025%2F05%2F1748662905-1748662905-wme3ucqspoyk.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![Updated: May 31, 2025 01:48 IST Canterbury [UK], May 31 (ANI): Karun Nair's redemption arc is bound to continue on Day 2 after he shattered](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fall-logos-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ftimesofoman.com.png&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
Times of Oman
5 days ago
- General
- Times of Oman
Updated: May 31, 2025 01:48 IST Canterbury [UK], May 31 (ANI): Karun Nair's redemption arc is bound to continue on Day 2 after he shattered
Canterbury: Karun Nair's redemption arc is bound to continue on Day 2 after he shattered the England Lions' backbone with his scorching display with the bat. At the same time, Dhruv Jurel pushed his case for a spot in India's playing XI for the upcoming five Tests in England, scheduled to begin on June 20. At the end of the opening day of the first unofficial Test between India A and England Lions, the touring party piled up 409/3 on the board, with Nair and Jurel unbeaten with scores of 186(246) and 82(104), respectively. India A dominated the entire opening day to turn the contest into a lopsided affair, courtesy of Nair's rip-roaring display that lasted most of the first session and the remainder of the day. He upped the ante after India A lost its opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran early in the opening day. The final session reflected Nair and Jurel's sheer dominance. They nullified the spin and pace traps laid out by the hosts to derail their progress. India A lost Sarfaraz Ahmed on 92 and the 181-run partnership for the third wicket in the first over after the tea break; Jurel joined Nair at the crease and adopted a swift approach to keep the scoreboard ticking. With Jurel firing all cylinders and Nair increasing his tempo, the duo added 182 runs to stamp India's authority in the final session. The duo lashed out at any loose delivery that landed in their arc. Nair sprinted for a single, bringing up his 150 in the 73rd over off Rehan Ahmed. In the 80th over, Jurel targeted the deep backward point to find the boundary rope and lift his bat for a valiant half-century. Jurel picked up the pace from that point and dealt with boundaries to lift India to a fighting total and end the day with an unbeaten 177-run partnership. Before Jurel and Nair enchanted the spectators with their sizzling display on Canterbury's green strip, Sarfaraz and Nair took the mantle of ensuring India remained unscathed in the second innings. After lunch, they batted their hearts out and made England Lions toil for wickets. While in the opening session, after being put to bat, skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran and the young sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal came out to open with hopes of getting valuable game time before the five high-stakes fixtures between the two modern-day giants. Easwaran, a household name in India's domestic circuit and with a plethora of experience in the red-ball format, couldn't conjure up a consequential performance. He oozed confidence, took his time to open his account, and left the deliveries that travelled in the corridor of uncertainty but got undone by a single delivery and returned cheaply on 8(17). With picture-perfect strokes, the 29-year-old found the boundary rope twice but got pinned in front of the stumps by Josh Hull. On the other hand, Jaiswal dazzled on the crease with a blend of aggression and composure. He switched his tempo according to the demands of the delivery and garnered three boundaries and a towering maximum. With runs flowing from his bat with a touch of elegance, Jaiswal's downfall came down to his aggressive mindset. The 23-year-old switched to white ball mode, took a wild swing at Eddie Jack's delivery and gave away an edge to England Lions captain and wicketkeeper James Rew, who confirmed his return ticket on 24(55).
Express Tribune
13-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
PCB to end mentorship roles for ex-players: sources
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has internally finalised plans to dissolve its five-member mentorship panel, marking a significant shift in its domestic cricket strategy, sources confirmed on Tuesday. According to sources, the move, directed by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, will see the board part ways with former national cricketers Misbah-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Shoaib Malik. These individuals had been appointed last year as mentors for the Champions Cup under a three-year contract. While no formal announcement has been made, the decision has already been approved at the top level. Shoaib Malik had voluntarily resigned two weeks ago, stepping down ahead of the board's final call. He announced his decision on his official Instagram page. The other four mentors are expected to be officially informed in the coming days. The rationale behind the decision remains undisclosed, and the PCB has not issued an official statement. The mentorship panel was announced on August 26, 2024, as part of a performance-focused revamp, with each former player assigned to a domestic team. Reports suggest each mentor was earning a monthly salary of Rs 5 million. According to sources, Misbah-ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed are not being considered for any alternative roles within the PCB at this stage. This development comes alongside other major structural changes at the board. Earlier on Tuesday, Mike Hesson was appointed as the new head coach of the Pakistan national team, while Aqib Javed was named Director of the High-Performance Centre. The restructuring reflects the PCB's intent to realign its domestic and international strategies ahead of a packed calendar that includes ICC events and bilateral commitments.
Business Recorder
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Business Recorder
Sarfaraz Ahmed embraces new role as Quetta Gladiators' team director
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed is stepping into a fresh chapter of his cricketing journey as Team Director of Quetta Gladiators in the ongoing HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) X. The 2019 champions, currently placed fifth on the points table with one win from three matches, have returned to Lahore after playing in Rawalpindi and Karachi. With five home fixtures lined up in the provincial capital, the team has begun training at the LCCA Ground, a venue recently used during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2025. Sarfaraz, who captained Pakistan to notable triumphs including the ICC U19 World Cup (2006) and the ICC Champions Trophy (2017), also led the Gladiators to their maiden HBL PSL title in 2019. Now, in a new leadership role, he is focused on steering the team from the dugout. Speaking to PCB Digital, Sarfaraz termed the transition from player to Team Director as both 'exciting' and 'challenging.' 'It's not easy for a player to move into a coaching role, but over time, one has to evolve and adapt,' he said. 'I have been with Quetta since the beginning of PSL, and this role allows me to give back in a different capacity.' He also highlighted the league's evolution: 'The PSL has grown immensely since 2016. The PCB and all stakeholders have worked hard to make it a success. We need to continue collaborating to make it a global brand.' Reflecting on Quetta's 2019 title-winning campaign, Sarfaraz said, 'That win was a memorable one. We had the right combination that year, and we are aiming to recreate that success this season.' On the team's overseas recruitment for this edition, he expressed optimism: 'We didn't perform well over the past three seasons, but this time we've selected overseas players suited to T20 cricket. We are hopeful of delivering better results.' Sarfaraz also praised young talents Hasan Nawaz and Khawaja Nafay. 'Hasan is a promising player and this is a great opportunity for him. Khawaja was picked in the Emerging category last year and has done well domestically. Both have a lot to learn from this platform.' On Saud Shakeel's leadership, he added: 'Saud has the full backing of the team. He showed strong captaincy in our first win, and although we lost the next two, we trust him to take the team forward.'
Express Tribune
10-04-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Ex-Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed clarifies retirement talk
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has denied making any official announcement regarding his retirement from professional cricket, saying he will decide when to step away on his own terms. Sarfaraz Ahmed, currently serving as Team Director for the Quetta Gladiators, has clarified that he has not retired from professional cricket. Speaking in a recent interview with a local sports outlet, the 37-year-old said, 'I haven't announced my retirement yet.' Sarfaraz, who last played for Pakistan in December 2023, addressed the growing speculation around his cricketing future. The wicketkeeper-batter said the emotional toll of being away from the field is real, but he remains committed to the game. 'When someone has played cricket all their life, it obviously hurts to stay away from the game,' he said. 'There comes a time when every player has to step away, but I try to make the most of whatever matches I get.' Despite going unsold in the HBL PSL 10 Draft, Sarfaraz hasn't ruled out a return to the field. 'I still keep some hope alive that maybe I'll get another chance,' he said, signalling that he is still open to playing professionally if the opportunity arises. The former skipper also clarified his stance on the national team, stating that while it is every cricketer's dream to represent their country, his focus remains on performing wherever he plays. 'I never said that I have to play for Pakistan,' Sarfaraz said. 'I just want to perform well in whatever cricket I play and give my 100 percent.' In addition to his role with the Gladiators, Sarfaraz is also mentoring the Dolphins in the Champions Cup. He concluded the interview by saying he alone will decide when the moment to retire has arrived. 'When I feel the moment has arrived, I'll say it myself — yes, my cricket is over now,' he said.
