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New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS) Former Punjab chief minister and Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) chief Amarinder Singh will join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on September 19.

PLC spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal said that Singh will also announce the merger of his party with the BJP the same day.

He said that a few former MLAs will also join the BJP along with Singh on September 19.

Speculations of Amarinder Singh joining the BJP had grown stronger after he met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on September 12.

"Had a very productive meeting with Hon'ble Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Discussed various issues pertaining to national security, the rising cases of narco-terrorism in Punjab and the future roadmap for the overall holistic development of Punjab," Singh had tweeted after meeting Shah.

Singh had floated his own party after quitting the Congress last year citing humiliation by the grand-old party.

The two-time chief minister of Punjab had fought the assembly elections in the state earlier this year in alliance with the BJP as well as Akali Dal (Sanyukt).

His party - Punjab Lok Congress - though had failed to get even a single seat during the assembly elections.

Singh himself had lost from his home turf Patiala urban constituency.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS) To commemorate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday on September 17, the BJP will observe Seva Pakhwada from September 17 to October 2 across the country.

The highlight of the event would be a series of exhibitions charting Prime Minister Modi's journey from childhood to becoming the Prime Minister and showcasing his ideals and achievements.

BJP national general secretary Arun Singh told mediapersons that party chief J.P. Nadda would inaugurate the exhibition on Saturday at the party headquarters here.

"This exhibition on the Prime Minister's life's journey would showcase his spirit of selflessness and service towards the nation. While Mr Nadda will inaugurate the exhibition tomorrow here at the party headquarter, similar exhibitions would be inaugurated by chief ministers in all capitals of BJP-ruled states. In districts across the country, BJP MPs and MLAs would do the same," Singh said.

Seminars to discuss the Prime Minister's works and ideas would also be held in all districts of the country, he added.

Apart from this, to portray the spirit of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' during this period, people would be encouraged to adopt food and attire from each others' states.

"People of Rajasthan would be encouraged to adopt for a day, food habits and traditional attire of people from other states who reside there," Singh said.

"Unity in diversity has always been there in India. It is not like Rahul Gandhi, who has undertaken Bharat Jodi Yatra," the BJP leader said, taking a jibe at Congress party's pan India march for promoting national unity.

Singh further said that under Seva Pakhwada, several public oriented activities would be undertaken.

Blood donation camps and free health check up camps would be held during this period in 964 districts of the country.

"Free medical implants would be given to physically challenged people and free COVID booster dosage would be administered to those who can't go to hospitals," the BJP leader informed.

TB patients would be adopted for a year, where one patient each would be adopted by a party member.

"Their daily needs would be taken care of for a period of one year so that such patients should feel that party workers are there to provide them all kinds of help," Singh told mediapersons.

This adoption of TB patients is being done in line with the Prime Minister's vision of making India TB free before 2025, he informed further.

"Lok Sabha MPs who are ministers, would travel to their constituencies during the fortnight and participate in various programmes lined up for the occasion. Rajya Sabha MPs and those who are ministers would be delegated by their respective states. However some Rajya Sabha MPs would be sent to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Kerala also," Singh said.

Social activities like Peepal tree plantation at all booths, Swachchta Abhiyan at public places and Shram Daan at Amrit Sarovars would also be conducted during this period.

--IANS
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Samarkand, Sep 16 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the SCO Summit has pushed for full right to transit within the member countries.

In his address in Hindi, the Prime Minister said: "The pandemic and the crisis in Ukraine caused many obstacles in global supply chains, due to which the whole world is facing an unprecedented energy and food crisis. SCO must make efforts to develop reliable, resilient and diversified supply chains in our region. This will require better connectivity, as well as it will be important that we all give each other full right to transit."

He said that the role of SCO becomes very important as SCO member countries contribute about 30 per cent of global GDP, and 40 per cent of the world's population also lives in SCO countries. India supports greater cooperation and mutual trust among SCO members.

He also said that India's economy is expected to grow by 7.5 per cent this year, which will be the highest among the world's largest economies. A lot of focus is also being given on the proper use of technology in our people-centric development model. We are supporting innovation in every sector.

Today, there are more than 70,000 Start-ups in India, of which more than 100 are unicorns.

"Our experience can also be useful for many other SCO members. For this purpose, we are ready to share our experience with SCO member countries by establishing a new Special Working Group on Start-ups and Innovation," he added.

The PM asserted that India is today one of the most affordable destinations for medical and wellness tourism in the world. WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine was inaugurated in Gujarat in April 2022. This will be WHO's first and only global centre for traditional medicine.


"We must increase cooperation on traditional medicine among SCO countries. For this, India will take the initiative for a new SCO Working Group on Traditional Medicine," he added.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS) Former President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday released a book titled "Ambedkar and Modi: Reformer's Ideas, Performer's Implementation" here in presence of Union Minister I&B Anurag Thakur, MoS Dr L. Murugan and former Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan.

While speaking at the launch of the book, the former President said that this book is a collection of Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's multidimensional ideologies and their works for the nation. Whether this is industrial development, labours' rights, self-reliance, electricity and water resources' development, planning wise development of cities, education or gender equality, this book gives ideological foundation and solid information on these important issues, said Kovind.

The book has been compiled by Bluekraft Digital Foundation and has a foreword by music composer and Rajya Sabha member Ilaiyaraaja. In 12 chapters dealing with domains as varied as infrastructure, education, socio-economic mobility, gender equality, self-reliance and many more -- the book not only presents Ambedkar's vision of India, but also takes into account several achievements of Modi and his government.

"Along with the maker of our constitution, Baba Saheb contributed immensely for the banking, electrification, labour management, revenue sharing system and education system of the country", the former President said while launching the book.

"This book contains 25 pictures which give Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unconditional love and respect to Baba Saheb. PM is perhaps the only leader in the country who organised Samvidhan Gaurav Yatra during the 'Heerak Janti varsh' which was held for the first time after the implementation of the constitution. It is the episode of 2010 when he was the chief minister of Gujarat '', he said.

Baba Saheb had always special emphasis on the development of the cities as he always used to say that the pressure of rising population should be minimised on the agricultural land and modern transformation be carried out in the cities to change the lifestyle. He also used to say the waterways as the pathway for the development which is being characterised by the Narendra Modi government. The Modi government has implemented the vision of Baba Saheb", Kovind added.

With utmost importance to the Jal Jeevan Mission, PM has forwarded the vision of Baba Saheb. It is an example in itself of how the Modi government has linked the vision of Baba Saheb to the common masses, he further added.

"I would like to say that this book is a testimony that PM Modi is a true disciple of Baba Ambedkar", the former President concluded.

"Many people did the work of collecting votes and making statues in the name of Dr Ambedkar. But his vision was for the upliftment of the deprived class, if someone is implementing it step by step on the ground that is Prime Minister Narendra Modi", said union Minister Anurag Thakur while speaking about the book.

The Union minister added further that Dr Ambedkar always believed that industrial development would prove to be a liberator for the underprivileged society. And today be it Make in India or self-reliant India, or PIL schemes, all this work is being done in that direction under the PM Modi government.

"Today we can proudly say that India of Baba Saheb's dreams is today marching with full confidence with the superpowers of the world under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi", he said on the occasion.

--IANS
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By Ashutosh Kumar
New Delhi, Sep 16: Barely a month left for the announcement of assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur is already in poll mode . Now, he awaits the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to blow the election bugle at Mandi-his home district on September 24.


Modi will address the Yuva-Sankalp rally of one lakh youths -all in the age below 40 years, first of its kind event.

Yet, before Modi takes the poll command in his hand, all eyes are on Kangra - the state's largest district. On Tuesday, the Chief Minister put-up a massive show of strength at Kangra, an OBC stronghold next to Dharamshala - a landmark foothill town, which is also regarded as the state's second capital, after Shimla. Dharamshala is also popular as the abode of Tibetan Spiritual Leader, the Dalai Lama.

One of the biggest pledges Thakur made in Kangra was dedicating BJP's forthcoming victory in the upcoming assembly polls to party veteran Shanta Kumar, who turned 89 a day before Chief Minister reached out to him at Palampur.

Kangra, which has 15 assembly seats, highest literacy ratio and best connectivity of road and air, has remained the strongest fortress of the BJP dominated by Shanta Kumar - a two time Chief Minister and former union minister for half the century. He is one of the surviving old guards of the Jan Sangh and BJP in the country.

Kangra is known for having the oldest serving Royal Dynasty in the world, the Katoch. It's house of 30 per cent of OBC population having considerable impact on at least eight assembly segments.

In the state, where the Congress and BJP have been alternating power after every five years, Kangra has been holding the key to the change. But this, the BJP is talking about "Rivaaj Badaldo" (buck the trend).

This means that the BJP, in order to maintain the trend set by states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Manipur and Goa, have to win Kangra. The party had won 11 out of 15 seats in 2017 elections to make it to power, ousting Virbhadra Singh.

Earlier to this in 2012 polls, the Congress had won 11 seats in Kangra and reduced the BJP to single digit at three with two independents getting elected to the House. Virbhadra Singh romped home alternating the BJP government.

Prior to this, he had to resign from the union cabinet in UPA-II following a corruption case in Shimla. Yet, he became Chief Minister for the sixth time as Kangra and adjoining district of Chamba facilitated his return to power defying all odds, including Congress factionalism and his age. The congress won more than 10 seats in Kangra alone.

The first-time BJP (then Janata Party) swept the Congress out of power in 1977 under Shanta Kumar. The Janta Party had won 13. Shanta Kumar was first erstwhile Jan Sangh leader from Kangra region to become a non-congress Chief Minister.

Another turn around for the BJP was in 1990 when Shanta Kumar again led the party to a massive victory. This time again, the party won 12 seats and BJP's alliance partner Janata Dal wrested three seats in Kangra. Veterans like Kanwar Gurga Chand were among JD winners.

Similarly in 1998, when BJP stormed to power defeating the Congress, the party won 10 seats in Kangra and formed the government under Prem Kumar Dhumal entering into a coalition with Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC)-an outfit led by Pandit Sukh Ram.

In the forthcoming elections, the challenge for Jai Ram Thakur is not only to retain the fortress of Kangra, Thakur's task is clearly cut-out to prove the BJP's popularity in the state and his performance is enough to keep the Congress out of the power as the BJP did in the states like Haryana, Uttarakhand and UP. History is against him. Thus Kangra certainly will play a decisive role, apart from Thakur's home district-Mandi, where the BJP had won nine out of 10 seats in 2017 polls.

There was a setback too in 2021. The BJP lost the Mandi Parliamentary seat to Pratibha Singh, former Chief Minister Virtbhadra Singh's wife in bypoll. Three assembly seats which witnessed byelection also were won by the congress. This is what is making the Congress confident to see its chances of replacing the BJP - the trend of alternating the government will stay on, says Sukhwinder Sukhu, Congress' campaign head.

Nevertheless, BJP is hoping to do well in Kangra.

"The elections are being held under a changed scenario. We have the tallest leader like Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It's due to his leadership, the BJP has won four states defying the 37-yr old history. We have done fairly well for the past four and half years with focus on equitable development of all regions. Kangra particularly has witnessed massive infrastructure development and welfare initiatives," says Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.

Thakur recalls the first global investors meeting hosted at Dharamshala which Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended. Modi ji also visited Dharamshala second time when a conference of Chief Secretaries was held. He will be touring the state this month for a rally at Mandi and thereafter will come to Bilaspur to inaugurate Rs 1400 cr AIIMS project. He has given the state Rs 1200 cr. bulk drug park-one of three proposed in the country and now tribal status to Hatee community in Sirmaur-a demand pending for 40 years.

But, this is not where the BJP has odds in Kangra. The gradual erosion of the BJP support in Kangra is attributed to weakening of the party leadership. This helped former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to capitalise in Kangra region and develop a bond with Kangra -also called as new Himachal. He is credited of setting of major government offices, Institutions and strengthening road infrastructure. He set-up a second State assembly complex at Dharamshala and also named it as "second capital."

There were also some of the strong Kangra leaders in the congress like Pt Sant Ram, Sat Mahajan, Viplove Thakur, Chander Kumar and G. S. Bali. The district is quite a mix of Rajput, Brahamin and OBC leaders.

Since Virbhadra Singh hailed from the old Himachal area, representing Rohru, Rampur and Shimla (rural) he took pains to ensure much balanced development of Kangra. Shanta Kumar being a native of Kangra and rose from positions from a panchayat panch to union minister overshadowed all leaders.

Dharamshala-based senior Journalist Naveen Sharma, (Editor, Dainik Jagran) strongly endorses the view that "road to power in Shimla passes through Kangra." This, he says, happens to be a historical fact.

It was Virbhadra Singh who understood it more than any other successor Chief Ministers and out-poured his efforts to see Kangra progressing though he could not bring the Congress back to power, after five year.

"Virbhadra tried to build an emotional relationship with Kangra. Successor BJP Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal also made an effort though not as strong as that of Virbhadra Singh. But, Jai Ram Thakur did not make an effort to replicate Kangra sentiments," Sharma analyses.

The BJP's problems in Kangra are multiple. After Shanta Kumar decided to retire from electoral politics, the party did not groom second line Kangra leadership. Party senior Vipin Parmar, a Shanta loyalist initially inducted as cabinet minister and later made Speaker of the assembly is one seen rising to the horizon yet has a limited out-reach .

Krishan Kapoor, another senior and Shanta loyalist is a sitting Lok Sabha member but feels completely side-lined in the current dispensation of the rule though being a Gaddi leader he has a considerable base.

Looking at gains from the OBC factor, the BJP had Sraveen Chaudhary, a three-time minister. She too has no mass base. Thus, the party has to rope in Pawan Kajal, a sitting Congress MLA (Kangra) to join the party. Chief Minister shared the stage with him first-time on Tuesday when put up a show of strength as BJP leader.

Since 1998, the BJP has not been able to win the Kangra assembly seat-which returned the Congress, BSP and even independents to the House. To get its foothold in this OBC dominant belt, the BJP has got Pawan Kajal-incumbent MLA and Congress' working president join the party. Kajal has a strong connection with his constituents - overwhelmingly the OBC community.

The Congress, on the other hand, is trying to encash on anti-incumbency and 'injustice' with Kangra during Jai Ram Thakur's tenure. But the party finds itself at loss due to the demise of Virbhadra Singh and veteran leader G. S. Bali in 2021 as the BJP banks on its organisational network, huge resource base in hand and Modi's magic to work in the state.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

--indianarrative

By IANSlife
New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANSlife) On October 14th, as part of the celebrations of International Chefs Day, the Indian Culinary Forum will deliver the 19th edition of the eagerly awaited annual Chef Awards.



The Annual Chef Honors celebration will take place at the Hotel Pride Plaza in Aerocity, New Delhi, where the ICF will commemorate the accomplishments of 17 exceptional culinary artists by presenting them with awards.

"The cherished Indian Chef Awards, first initiated nineteen years back in 2004 by ICF, have become Indian culinary industry's most respected and most valued testament for talent and skill recognition in addition to becoming the biggest platform for knowledge sharing amongst industry stakeholders. This year's event will further cement ICF Awards as the finest platform for knowledge sharing, talent recognition of Indian Chefs, and spreading goodwill and footprint of Indian cuisine around the world," said Chef Davinder Kumar, President of Indian Culinary Forum.

Chef Davinder Kumar added: "The Award event has three segments including Culinary Competitions, Knowledge Summit, and the Chef Awards. The ICF culinary competition will be held at Banarsidass Chandiwala Institute of Hotel Management and Institute of Bakery & Culinary Arts, New Delhi where over 150 professional chefs will showcase their culinary skills in 11 different categories. WACS-certified noted chef Dayashankar Sharma is the chairperson of this year's jury while well-known Chef Sireesh Saxena is the organizing secretary."

Winners of Indian Culinary Forum 18th Annual Chef Awards
The Knowledge Summit, which this year celebrates its tenth year, will offer a forum for debate and discussion on topics affecting the Industry. This year's Knowledge Summit will put a specific emphasis on discussing strategies to promote Indian cuisine internationally and laying out the future directions for the food and beverage industry. The top names in the hospitality industry, educators, food reviewers, and connoisseurs will all be present at the Knowledge Summit, which aims to raise awareness of the profession among the general public.

"ICF's aim is not merely recognition of talents but also empowering talents with latest culinary knowledge and skills which not only helps in career development but also helps the country by spreading the footprint of Indian cuisine around the world," said Chef Vivek Saggar, General Secretary of Indian Culinary Forum.

Talking about the program Chef Vivek Saggar added: "There are six special award categories which include Lifetime Achievement Award, Golden Hat, Silver Hat, Academic Silver Hat, Pastry Chef of the Year, Lady Chef of the Year, The Culinary Competitions (Trade Test) category includes Master Chef of the Year, Master Chef Kebabs, Master Chef Indian Pattissarie, Master Chef Indian Sweets, Master Chef International Cuisine, Master Chef North Indian Cuisine, Master Chef Oriental Cuisine Award, Master Chef Baker Award, Master Chef South East & West, Student Chef of the Year Female, Student Chef of the Year Male."

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

--IANS
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Washington, Sep 16 (IANS) Initial jobless claims in the US have dropped for the fifth straight week to reach 213,000 amid continued labour market tightness, the Labour Department reported.

In the week ending September 10, the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits decreased by 5,000 from the previous week's downwardly revised level of 218,000, according to a report released on Thursday by the Department's Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS).

The four-week moving average for initial jobless claims, a method to iron out data volatility, also decreased by 8,000 to 224,000, Xinhua news agency quoted the report as saying.

The latest report also showed that the number of people continuing to collect regular state unemployment benefits, which was reported with a one-week lag, increased by 2,000 to 1.4 million during the week ending September 3.

The latest weekly figure of 213,000 was below the 2019 weekly average of 218,000, which was the pre-pandemic level.

In the week ending March 21, 2020, initial jobless claims skyrocketed to 2.9 million.

Jobless claims totalled 166,000 in the week ending March 19 this year, the lowest in decades. In recent months, the figures have been trending up amid surging inflation and rising interest rates.

The latest figure, however, showed that applications for unemployment insurance fell for a fifth week, signaling still robust demand for labour even as economic growth slows.

The number of job openings in the US rose to 11.2 million by the end of July, as the imbalances between labour market supply and demand remained, the Department had reported earlier.

With the increase in job openings, there were nearly two job positions per available worker.

--IANS
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Chennai, Sep 16 (IANS) Ousted interim general secretary of the AIADMK, V.K. Sasikala said that she was on a comeback path and will lead the party at an appropriate time. She also said that she and O. Panneerselvam were together and that she would soon visit the party headquarters in Chennai.

Sasikala in a statement on Friday said that the AIADMK would win all the Lok Sabha seats from Tamil Nadu in the 2024 general elections. The estranged leader said that the majority of the party cadres are with her and O. Panneerselvam and that she would soon be at the helm of affairs in the party.

The former aide of late Chief Minister, J. Jayalalithaa who was one of the most powerful figures in the AIADMK, said that the Chief Minister M.K. Stalin does not have any time for governance and was busy in photo shoots.

The former interim general secretary of the AIADMK said that the party cadres are for a change in the AIADMK and said that several leaders and cadres have approached her.

The powerful Thevar community, which has been a traditional support base for the AIADMK in South India, has been trying to bridge the gap between Sasikala and O. Panneerselvam who both are from the community. With O. Panneerselvam being targeted in the AIADMK, the Thevar community has been taking initiatives for an alliance between the two powerful Thevar leaders.

--IANS
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Samarkand, Sep 16 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which is the first in-person summit being held in two years in the historic Uzbek city here.

Before the deliberations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posed for a photograph with the SCO leaders -- Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and other leaders.

Modi also met Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of Uzbekistan.

The Prime Minister's Office on Friday tweeted the pictures, "PM @narendramodi at the SCO Summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan."

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagch tweeted: "Together for the region! PM @narendramodi joins the leaders of SCO Member States for discussions on topical, regional and international issues, including regional peace and security, trade and connectivity, culture and tourism."

The Prime Minister is participating in the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and will hold bilateral meetings with some other leaders attending the Summit.

The regional multilateral organisation was set up in 2001 with Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan as members, while India and Pakistan became full members in 2017.

The Council of the SCO Heads of State is the highest decision-making body of the organisation and meets for an annual summit that is hosted by a member state of the SCO.

Prime Minister Modi has been leading the Indian delegation to the SCO Summit every year, since India became its full member in 2017. During the last two summits in 2020 and 2021, he participated in the virtual format.

--IANS
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Mumbai, Sep 16 (IANS) The most successful team in IPL, Mumbai Indians have appointed former South African wicketkeeper-batter Mark Boucher as their head coach for the 2023 season.

Boucher had recently decided to leave his role as head coach of South Africa men's team after the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia next month.

Mumbai Indians, the winners of five IPL trophies, said in a statement on Friday that, "Mark Boucher has had a long and illustrious career as a wicket-keeper, batsman and holds the record for the most Test dismissals by a wicket-keeper. Post-retirement he took over as coach for Titans, a top-level cricket franchise in South Africa, and led them to five domestic titles. In 2019, Cricket South Africa appointed Mark Boucher as the head coach where he crafted 11 Test wins, 12 in ODIs and 23 T20I victories."

"It's a pleasure to welcome Mark Boucher to Mumbai Indians. With his proven expertise on the field and off it as a coach guiding his team to numerous victories, Mark will add immense value to MI and take forward its legacy," said Akash. M. Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Jio Infocomm.

"It is an honour and privilege to be appointed as Head Coach of MI. Their history and achievements as a franchise clearly put them up there as one of the most successful sporting franchises in all of world sport. I look forward to the challenge and respect the need for results. It's a strong unit with great leadership and players. I look forward to adding value to this dynamic unit," said Boucher.

Under Boucher, the Proteas are currently No. 2 on the ICC World Test Championship table. His last series at the helm will be a white-ball tour of India from September 28 to October 11 before heading to the T20 World Cup in Australia, where South Africa are grouped alongside Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. The tournament will run from October 16 to November 13.

Recently, Mumbai Indians had announced that head coach Mahela Jayawardene and director of cricket operations Zaheer Khan were being elevated to new roles as part of the franchise's central team for its growing global cricket footprint.

Jayawardene, the former Sri Lanka skipper who became the head coach of the franchise in 2017 and under whom MI won three IPL titles, has been appointed as the Global Head of Performance. Zaheer, ex-India left-arm pacer, who joined the side as Director of Cricket Operations in 2018, has been appointed as Global Head of Cricket Development.

--IANS

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