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Hans India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Congress Leaders Celebrate BC Reservation Hike with Milk Abhishekam in Gadwal
Gadwal: A wave of celebration swept through Gadwal district today as Congress leaders and activists performed a ceremonial milk abhishekam (ritual milk offering) to a portrait of Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, hailing the state government's decision to enhance Backward Classes (BC) reservations to 42% in local body elections. The event took place at the Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy Chowrasta near the Old Bus Stand in Gadwal. It was organized under the leadership of Telugu Govind, Gadwal town Congress president, following the directions of Gadwal MLA Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy. Speaking at the event, former municipal vice-chairman Babar praised CM Revanth Reddy as a true champion of the BC communities. 'Our beloved Chief Minister has shown extraordinary commitment to social justice. By issuing an ordinance increasing BC reservations to 42% in local body elections, he has taken a historic step to correct long-standing injustices. We are offering this milk abhishekam as a token of our gratitude and continued support,' Babar stated. Attendees Several prominent local leaders and Congress activists participated in the program, including: Jammalamma Temple Chairman Venkat Ramulu Market Yard Vice Chairman Srikant Reddy Former Gonegopadu Sarpanch Majid Former MPTC Raman Goud Former municipal councillors Murali, Narahari Srinivas, Narahari Goud, and Srinivasulu Pudur Krishna, former Jammalamma Temple Chairman Jammalamma Temple Director Palem Venkatesh Market Yard Director Anjaneyulu Leaders Dharma Nayudu, Ganta Ramesh, Vanta Bhaskar, Sanghala Narasimhulu Bangi Sudarshan, Bottu Sudhakar, Ram Anjaneyulu, Davulu Anwar, Mobin Youth leaders Nagender Yadav, Nagul Yadav, Srinivas Yadav, Kotha Ganesh, Mohan Yadav, MP Praveen, Ramakrishna, Medari Shiva Shankar, Jamishetty Praveen, Preetham, and many others. Sarithamma Welcomes Cabinet Decision. In a separate statement, Saritha, former Zilla Parishad Chairperson and Congress in-charge of the Gadwal constituency, expressed joy over the cabinet's unanimous decision to enhance BC reservations to 42% in local body elections. She extended heartfelt thanks to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, emphasizing that this move is a milestone in the fight for social justice and political empowerment of the Backward Classes. 'This is a historic decision by the Telangana state government and a shining example for the entire country,' Sarithamma stated. 'The Congress party has once again proven its commitment to the marginalized. I thank CM Revanth Reddy, AICC leader Rahul Gandhi, and the Telangana Cabinet for taking this revolutionary step. This will go down in history as a model of inclusive governance.' She added that the Congress party stands as the only political force that has consistently delivered justice to BC communities, and this ordinance is further proof of that commitment. The Telangana state cabinet recently approved an ordinance increasing reservations for BCs to 42% in local body elections. The move is being widely hailed as a transformative measure aimed at ensuring adequate representation and empowerment of Backward Class communities in political and administrative structures.
NDTV
11-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Babar Azam Told To Become Wicketkeeper To Regain T20I Spot? Coach Breaks Silence
Pakistan's white ball head coach Mike Hesson on Thursday denied the speculations that he had asked star batter Babar Azam to keep wickets in order to regain his spot in the national T20 International squad. Pakistan media had widely reported that Hesson made such a suggestion to Babar during a formal chat with senior players recently in Lahore where Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi were also present. 'No discussion took place with Babar where I suggested he also keep wickets,' Hesson told the media. He made it clear that if Babar regains his spot in the Pakistan T20 side it would be as an opener and he might open with either Saim Ayub or Fakhar Zaman. The seasoned Kiwi coach came under criticism from several former players such as Rashid Latif, Basit Ali, Mohsin Khan, Moin Khan, and Sikander Bakht when media reported said he had asked Babar to keep wickets in the shortest format. 'They are being very unfair with Babar, Rizwan and Shaheen but I can assure you these three will be back soon,' Basit said. Mohsin said it was unfortunate to even think that Babar would have to keep wickets to play in the format. 'He has never kept wickets in his entire career and you suggest he keeps wickets. This is not the way to treat a former captain and senior,' he said. The Pakistani players picked for the Bangladesh tour are attending a camp in Karachi. Babar, Rizwan and Shaheen, despite not being in the team, have been told to attend the camp. Meanwhile, Hesson also said he has not instructed the players to bat in such a way that the strike-rate always remains above 150. 'I have also not told the players that if they want to keep their places in the team they have to bat at strike rates of over 150,' Hesson clarified. He admitted that Pakistan's biggest problem in T20 cricket was batting and they need to meet the modern day requirements of the format. 'We are working on some things in this direction.' Hesson made it clear that he was presently working on a plan with the selectors to forge a young T20 side with a particular approach to the format. 'We are looking at players who are ready to float in the batting order and perform multiple roles but that does not mean there will be no spot for specialist players.' Hesson said he was very much part of the selection process and once the selectors gave the team management a list of 20 players it was up to them to decide on playing eleven or 15. Hesson also said he wanted to give some exposure to new players before next year's T20 World Cup but established players would be called upon when required. 'Hasan Ali will play in the West Indies while we are also keen to see Shaheen Shah Afridi return in a more effective role,' he added.
India Gazette
11-07-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
New Pakistan white-ball coach Mike Hesson outlines steps to return path for Babar and Afridi in T20
New Delhi [India], July 11 (ANI): New Pakistan white-ball coach Mike Hesson has revealed the steps that experienced duo Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi must take to work their way back into the T20I side, according to the ICC website. Babar and Shaheen played a major role in helping Pakistan to consecutive appearances in the knockout stages of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2021 and 2022, but have recently fallen out of favour in the shortest format and were notable absentees in Hesson's first squad that swept Bangladesh 3-0 on home soil at the start of last month. Hesson suggested Babar and Shaheen are both still heavily involved in his long-term plans for next year's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, and the pair are currently in Karachi taking part in a training camp alongside their teammates who will travel to Bangladesh later this month for a three-match T20I series in Mirpur. Hesson clarified that Babar's way back into the team was not by taking the gloves and becoming Pakistan's first-choice keeper, but that the former skipper was in a battle with fellow top-order batters Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub for one of two spots as opener. 'Firstly, Babar Azam is not seen as a wicket-keeping option. Not sure where that came from, but I have heard that speculation. Babar is competing for one of the opening positions at the moment. But obviously we have Fakhar and Saim in those two roles at the moment, so he's competing for that,' Mike Hesson said. Babar's strike-rate of 129.81 in T20I cricket is inferior to Fakhar's (133.49) and Ayub's (138.48), and Hesson admitted the right-hander needs to boost his scoring clip to stay relevant in the shortest format. 'No doubt strike rate is important in T20 cricket, but you have to combine it with a volume of runs,' Hesson said. 'There's a good reason why our ranking in T20 cricket is as low as it is, because our strike rates from a batting point of view are not high enough. We certainly made some shifts in that last series to play a more expansive game of cricket and probably catch up with the rest of the world, as that is the way the modern game is.' 'Babar is one of many who have the ability to make those improvements. And I'm here to work with them and help them. In the last month or so, he's made some really good changes. It's not just a matter of going from 125 to 150, it's a matter of increasing what you can offer because we're no doubt often 30-40 runs short with the bat. So, we need to find a way of getting that,' he added. Hesson didn't reveal the exact areas that he wanted Afridi to improve in, but did suggest the left-armer needed to perform better with the white-ball. 'Shaheen Shah Afridi is a world-class player. There's no doubt that we've identified some areas that Shaheen needs to work on, as does every player at this camp,' Hesson noted. 'But there's a good reason that he, and everybody else, is at this camp. They're in the wider frame for Pakistan in white-ball cricket, and that includes T20 cricket.' 'Players go through good periods and periods where they're a little bit down in their game. And it's up to us as coaching staff to try and get our best players on the park and make them better, so when they play for Pakistan, they perform better,' he added. (ANI)
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘Not the way to treat a senior': Pakistan coach Mike Hesson denies asking Babar Azam to take up wicket-keeping for T20I spot
Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson quashed all speculations that suggested that he had requested former captain Babar Azam to take up wicket-keeping to bid and reclaim his spot in the T20I set-up. Babar, who was dropped alongside senior batter Mohammed Rizwan from the T20I squad early in March, continued to be snubbed from the team announced for the forthcoming Bangladesh series, starting July 20. Speculations had then surfaced that Babar was asked by the team management to work on an additional role besides being a top-order batsman to regain a slot in the T20I side. Hesson clarified that Pakistan did not view Babar, the team's highest-ever T20I run-scorer as a wicket-keeping option, denying all rumours. 'No discussion took place with Babar where I suggested he also keep wickets. He has never kept wickets in his entire career and you suggest he keeps wickets. This is not the way to treat a former captain and senior,' Hesson told the reporters, according to PTI. 'Firstly, Babar Azam is not seen as a wicketkeeping option, no,' Hesson said. 'Not sure where that came from, but I have heard that speculation. Babar is competing for one of the opening positions at the moment. But obviously we have Fakhar [Zaman] and Saim [Ayub] in those two roles at the moment, so he's competing for that.' Despite racking up 4223 with an average close to 40, Babar's middling 129.22 strike rate came in the way of a crucial top-order spot in the shortest format. Hesson also clarified that he had not mentioned that only players with a strike rate north of 150 will be considered for T20Is. 'No doubt strike rate is important in T20 cricket but you have to combine it with a volume of runs,' Hesson said. 'There's a good reason why our ranking in T20 cricket is as low as it is, because our strike rates from a batting point of view are not high enough. We certainly made some shifts in that last series to play a more expansive game of cricket and probably catch up with the rest of the world, as that is the way the modern game is. However, Hesson acknowledged that the 30-year-old Babar needed improvement on scoring rates, while backing him to make amends. 'Babar is one of many who have the ability to make those improvements. And I'm here to work with them and help them. In the last month or so, he's made some really good changes. It's not just a matter of going from 125 to 150, it's a matter of increasing what you can offer because we're no doubt often 30-40 runs short with the bat. So, we need to find a way of getting that.' Pakistan squad for Bangladesh T20Is: Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Sufyan Moqim.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Babar Azam to keep wickets for Pakistan? Shocking twist in comeback plans
Babar Azam (AFP Photo) Pakistan's white-ball head coach, Mike Hesson, on Thursday dismissed reports suggesting he had advised star batter Babar Azam to take up wicketkeeping in order to reclaim his place in the national T20I squad. Local media had widely reported that Hesson made the suggestion during a recent formal discussion with senior players in Lahore, where Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi were also present. 'No discussion took place with Babar where I suggested he also keep wickets,' Hesson clarified during a media interaction. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! He further emphasised that if Babar is to make a comeback in the T20I side, it would be as an opener, likely partnering with either Saim Ayub or Fakhar Zaman. The Kiwi coach came under fire from several former Pakistan cricketers, including Rashid Latif, Basit Ali, Mohsin Khan, Moin Khan, and Sikander Bakht, following the media reports. 'They are being very unfair with Babar, Rizwan and Shaheen but I can assure you these three will be back soon,' Basit Ali said. Mohsin Khan also strongly criticized the idea, calling it disrespectful towards Babar. 'He has never kept wickets in his entire career and you suggest he keeps wickets. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Monte Marenzo: AudioNova cerca per un test 700 persone nate prima del 1974 AudioNova Undo This is not the way to treat a former captain and senior,' Mohsin said. Meanwhile, although Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen are not part of the squad for the upcoming Bangladesh tour, they have been asked to attend the preparatory camp in Karachi alongside the selected players. Addressing another topic of debate, Hesson denied setting a mandatory strike rate requirement for team selection. Sachin Tendulkar Honoured at Lord's 'I have also not told the players that if they want to keep their places in the team they have to bat at strike rates of over 150,' he clarified. He acknowledged that Pakistan's primary challenge in T20 cricket is its batting and stressed the need to align with modern demands of the format. 'We are working on some things in this direction,' Hesson said. He also revealed that a plan is being formulated in collaboration with selectors to build a younger T20 side with a flexible, dynamic approach to the format. 'We are looking at players who are ready to float in the batting order and perform multiple roles but that does not mean there will be no spot for specialist players.' EXCLUSIVE: Inside look at Indian cricket team's final net session at Lord's Cricket Ground Hesson confirmed he is actively involved in the selection process. Once the selectors provide a pool of 20 players, the team management then decides on the playing XI or the 15-member squad. Looking ahead, Hesson stated he aims to give opportunities to emerging players before the 2026 T20 World Cup, while experienced names will remain in the frame. 'Hasan Ali will play in the West Indies while we are also keen to see Shaheen Shah Afridi return in a more effective role,' he added. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
