Latest news with #Jaffer
NDTV
3 days ago
- Climate
- NDTV
Ahead Of Captaincy Debut, Shubman Gill Told To 'Improve' By Hero Of India's Last Test Series Win In England
India's Test batting has been historically vulnerable to England's swing and seam bowling, resulting in only three series victories for the visitors across many years of touring the country. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retiring from Tests, India's young batters face a stern examination when the upcoming series starts at Headingley in Leeds on Friday. The essential guide to batting successfully in England is uncomplicated, but the Indian batters have previously struggled with patience, particularly when the Dukes ball is swinging – either in the air or off the pitch, thus unsettling them further. In England's swing bowling conditions, the newly appointed captain, Shubman Gill, and his fellow batsmen will have their batting techniques rigorously tested. Wasim Jaffer, the former India opener who was a part of the team that won the Test series in England 1-0 in 2007, explains the uniqueness behind the country presenting varied challenges to batters when the series moves from north to south and on various grounds. 'I feel that England is a place where conditions change from time to time. When the sun rises, the conditions become completely flat. When it is overcast, then the ball starts to move around,' said Jaffer in an exclusive conversation with IANS. 'So, generally, it is not like that in other countries, where the conditions change so much, and you get a lot of rain even in the summer in England. Apart from that, I feel every ground has its own uniqueness - there is a slope in Lords while The Oval is a good batting wicket.' 'Then in the north, you go to Old Trafford, and even in Headingley, where there is the first Test match, now I am hearing that it is very hot. So, we might get to see a little bit of (conducive) batting in those conditions. But there, the ball moves around a little bit, and the bowlers get a little help. So, these are the challenges batters face when conditions change," he added. Jaffer believes many players will be familiar with playing in a five-match Test series, citing their experience of being in Australia, but he feels that playing the same number of matches in England presents a greater challenge. 'In England, the Dukes ball, the ball keeps moving around. So, you will have to play a little late.' 'You always have to know in England, it is such a place, that you can never easily feel that, 'Brother, I am set, so a big score will be made'. It's because suddenly, the ball will start moving. The Dukes ball also helps in reverse swing,' he added. The onus will also be on openers to ensure India have a great start to their batting innings in England. When India led England 2-1 in 2021, before the series came to a halt, the visitors succeeded due to the impressive batting of openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, who faced upwards of 1500 balls. While Rahul hit a fine century in India's roaring win at Lord's, Rohit had also hit a match-winning 127 in a heavy victory at The Oval. Rahul's strength lies in his ability to assess the line and length of deliveries and then be adept at leaving a lot of balls, particularly at the beginning of his time at the crease. His combination of patience, solid technique, and temperament has resulted in recent good outcomes in Tests. With Rohit not there, Rahul will not only have to replicate what his keys to success were in 2021, but also mentor his young opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal as the latter navigates the challenges of opening in Tests in England, after playing in the West Indies, South Africa and Australia. 'The initial 30-45 minutes, I think, is the most crucial part. You have to play a little late. You don't need to poke at the ball, and there is no need to reach for the ball. In England, there is a little sideways movement. So, the later you play, and the closer to the body, that is better. I think, knowing your off-stump is also going to be very important, because, generally, the bowling line of English bowlers is generally around off-stump or fourth stump.' 'So, again, that will be very important - knowing where your off-stump is, which ball to play and which to leave. Plus, your footwork needs to be precise. You don't want to be caught in the crease very often. So, either you go forward or you go back. Scoring opportunities, when you get them, you need to pounce on that.' 'These are the things that I am sure the players who have spent so much time in England, who have played practice games, and practiced so far, I am sure they will adjust to that. I think the first Test is going to be very crucial and for India to come and do well in the first Test match is where they will get that confidence, and this is going to come very handy,' elaborated Jaffer, who feels the current line-up is filled with potential to do good on tour. Coming to Jaiswal, who was iffy in the two India 'A' matches against England Lions with scores of 24, 64, 17, and 5, and flashed hard away from the body, Jaffer is hoping that he will do well after acing the Australian challenge. 'The way he made runs in Australia - it was a big challenge for him to play against the Australian bowling attack. But he came out with flying colours.' 'Though he has not played in a Test match in England, he has experience of playing there with India U19 and 'A' teams. But a Test match is a Test match, and I feel that with his technique and temperament, he should do well, because, technically, he is good. Then his temperament is good, and I feel that he would be looking to tick a box in his career here when he comes out with flying colours.' The onus will also be on skipper Shubman Gill, who will occupy the number four spot, a place where stalwarts like Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Gundappa Viswanath, and Dilip Vengsarkar previously batted. One of the obvious issues with Gill in Tests has been his being slow on playing on the front foot, with the fast bowlers getting one to nip back in to castle him or trap him plumb lbw. Jaffer, the highest run-getter in Ranji Trophy's history, was the Punjab head coach when Gill hit 102 against Karnataka in Bengaluru earlier this year – a knock where he needed to rein in, before getting his runs. Getting the Test captaincy will also help Gill turn a corner in making runs in overseas conditions, feels Jaffer. 'I could feel that captainship is not going to burden him. It's probably challenging him to get better. Test cricket is one place where he needs to improve his numbers. He knows that, especially away from home and this is a big tour. I feel knowing his character and temperament, he'll be looking very desperately to score runs and win this series. So, I feel, he'll be one of those players where captainship will make him a better batsman.' Coming to England, Jaffer pointed out that Joe Root is undoubtedly the main guy that India should be looking to dislodge, even as others, including skipper Ben Stokes, are in indifferent batting form. 'You don't get that assurance from everyone. Even Harry Brook hasn't scored that much amount of runs, even though he's an exciting player.' 'So, if India bowls well with Jasprit, Siraj, Prasidh, and Shardul, then I think India has the potential to put pressure on that England batting line-up. This is a very inexperienced England side with Stuart Broad and James Anderson not there, so India can put pressure on their bowling attack too.' 'I feel it's going to be a very balanced series. You can't say that England has the upper hand and India will be underdogs. I feel India will be looking to impose themselves because it's a new team. There's not much baggage, and a new leader is there. So, I feel it's going to be an exciting series,' he concluded.
1634752114-0%2FZahir-Jaffer-(1)1634752114-0.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Express Tribune
12-06-2025
- Express Tribune
Zahir Jaffer's death sentence upheld as Supreme Court releases detailed verdict
A file photo of 30-year-old Zahir Jaffer talking to the media outside a courtroom in Islamabad. SCREENGRAB: EXPRESS Listen to article The Supreme Court of Pakistan has released its detailed written verdict in Noor Mukadam murder case, upholding the death sentence of convict Zahir Jaffer. The judgment spans 13 pages and reiterates the court's stance that Jaffer, who was found guilty of the brutal killing, is 'a ruthless killer' and 'not worthy of sympathy.' According to the verdict, the Supreme Court upheld the rulings of both lower courts, terming them correct and unanimous. A key element of the court's reasoning was based on the Silent Witness Theory—a legal principle that allows for video evidence to be accepted even in the absence of an eyewitness. Read: 'This is for every woman' The court noted, 'Authentic footage can serve as self-sufficient evidence, and recorded video or images can be presented as testimony.' The apex court stressed that footage obtained through a reliable system could be admissible on its own, citing a precedent from a bank robbery case where video footage was accepted without any eyewitness. It added that American courts have widely recognised the Silent Witness principle. In Jaffer's case, the court noted that CCTV footage, the DVR, and the hard disk were all admissible forms of evidence. The court stated that there was no indication of tampering in the video recordings, the identification of the accused was accurate, and the DNA report confirmed the rape. The murder weapon was also found to have the victim's blood on it. The verdict observed, 'The convict failed to provide any explanation for Noor's presence. Digital evidence is now considered primary testimony. If CCTV footage meets the set standards, no further verification is necessary.' Further, the court upheld Jaffer's death sentence for murder but converted his sentence for rape into life imprisonment. He was acquitted of the abduction charge, while his sentence for unlawfully confining Noor was maintained. The Supreme Court also ruled that the punishments for co-accused Muhammad Iftikhar and Muhammad Jan would stand. However, in a show of leniency, it ordered their release on the grounds that they had already served sufficient time. The judgment concluded with a note that Justice Ali Baqar Najafi would add a supplementary note to the verdict. Read More: 'Noor was kept in captivity for 3 days' Noor, 27, was brutally murdered on July 20, 2021, at a residence in Islamabad's F-7/4 sector. An FIR was lodged the same day, leading to the arrest of Jaffer at the crime scene. In February 2022, a district and sessions court handed Zahir the death penalty for murder and sentenced him to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment for rape. Two domestic staff members, Mohammad Iftikhar and Jan Mohammad, were each sentenced to 10 years in prison for their involvement. Zahir's parents, Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamji—both prominent business figures—were indicted in October 2021 but later acquitted. Similarly, six employees of Therapy Works, who arrived at the scene before the police, were also cleared of charges by the trial court. Read More: Noor Mukadam's killer claims insanity Previously, a three-member bench headed by Justice Hashim Kakar, and comprising Justices Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Ali Baqar Najafi, had dismissed Jaffer's appeal. The court upheld the Islamabad High Court's (IHC) previous ruling, which had affirmed the trial court's death sentence verdict and replaced Zahir's jail term for rape with an additional death penalty. During those hearings, Jaffer's defence counsel, Salman Safdar, argued that the prosecution's case rested heavily on CCTV footage and DVR recordings. He questioned the chain of custody of the digital evidence and contended that the footage could not be considered conclusive without full verification. His objections included claims that the footage, when presented to the IHC on a USB, could not be played, and therefore should not qualify as definitive proof. Despite these arguments, the apex court found the digital evidence reliable and legally admissible.
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
ED nabs man for smuggling red sanders worth ₹68 crore to Dubai
MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Abdul Jaffer, the alleged mastermind of an inter-state syndicate involved in large-scale smuggling of red sanders wood to overseas markets. Jaffer, who had been absconding for four years while evading multiple ED summons, was apprehended from Chennai during search operations conducted by the agency's Nagpur unit as part of a money-laundering investigation. According to ED officials, Jaffer is accused of illegally exporting 13 consignments of Red Sanders wood—valued at approximately ₹68 crore in grey markets—to Dubai over the past few years. The smuggling operation reportedly involved misdeclaring the cargo to Customs authorities. In one instance, sponge iron declared for export by a Raipur-based company was allegedly swapped with Red Sanders logs using Jaffer's network and influence. Red sanders, or red sandalwood, is a protected species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Its export is prohibited under the Customs Act, 1962, and restricted under India's Foreign Trade Policy. The rare wood is prized internationally for its use in high-end furniture, traditional medicine, and cosmetics. ED officials said Jaffer's syndicate operated by concealing Red Sanders inside containers of legitimate goods being exported by reputed firms, thereby evading detection. 'He is suspected to be a habitual offender, with his name cropping up in several past smuggling cases investigated by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI),' an ED source said. Thursday's search operations in Chennai also led to the seizure of incriminating documents and evidence suggesting that proceeds from the smuggling were laundered to acquire land, flats, commercial properties, and luxury vehicles worth several crores. The ED's probe stems from an earlier case registered by DRI's Nagpur unit, which had filed a chargesheet against Jaffer under Section 135 of the Customs Act for evasion and illicit export of prohibited goods. Following his arrest, Jaffer was brought to Nagpur and produced before a special court on Saturday, which remanded him to ED custody till Wednesday. In a parallel case, DRI's Mumbai unit last year seized six tonnes of Red Sanders at Nhava Sheva port. The consignment, also destined for illegal export, had been concealed beneath cargo declared as granite marble slabs and cement bricks—pointing to a recurring modus operandi. Officials said the latest arrest marks a significant breakthrough in curbing the illegal trade of Red Sanders, which has emerged as a lucrative black-market commodity with strong international demand despite stringent regulations.
India Today
27-05-2025
- India Today
ED arrests red sanders smuggler in Chennai, he was on the run for 4 years
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested a wanted red sanders smuggler following search operations at premises linked to him in Chennai. The accused, Abdul Jaffer, had failed to appear before the probe agency despite repeated Nagpur sub-zonal office of ED conducted raids at two premises linked to Jaffer in Chennai on May 22. Jaffer is involved in the large-scale smuggling of red sanders to Dubai by way of replacing the declared goods being exported by reputed entities with red sanders in transit through his clout of operations unravelled several properties in the form of land, buildings, flats and high-end vehicles acquired by the accused out of proceeds of crime which runs into crores of rupees, including other incriminating materials. Jaffer, who was on the run for four years, did not appear before the ED despite repeated summonses, which constituted a deliberate disregard of judicial proceedings. He was brought to Nagpur from Chennai under transit remand and was produced before a court on May 28. The court then sent him to ED custody till May ED initiated an investigation on the basis of a prosecution complaint filed by DRI, Nagpur under Section 135 of the Customs Act, 1962 against Jaffer and investigation revealed that Jaffer had smuggled 13 consignments of red sanders to Dubai by way of replacing the declared goods. The value of the total smuggled red sanders has been calculated to be approximately Rs 68 crore, which excludes one consignment intercepted and seized by the DRI, when it was being attempted to be investigation also disclosed that Jaffer's name figured in several other smuggling cases of red sanders, which were being investigated by other units of InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Chennai#Nagpur
Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Indian Express
ED arrests red sanders smuggler Abdul Jaffer from Chennai
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Abdul Jaffer, a key accused in a Red Sanders smuggling racket, during search operations conducted at two premises in Chennai on May 22. Jaffer, who was allegedly on the run for four years despite repeated summons, was traced and taken into custody, the ED SAID on Monday. According to ED officials, Jaffer is suspected to be the central figure in a smuggling syndicate that illegally exported red sanders (a protected wood species whose export is prohibited under India's Foreign Trade Policy) to Dubai. The method involved replacing the declared export items, such as sponge iron, with red sanders during transit. The sponge iron consignments were officially being exported by a Raipur-based entity. Jaffer was brought to Nagpur by the ED's Nagpur sub-zonal office on a transit remand, issued by a Chennai court, and produced before a special court in Nagpur dealing with money-laundering cases on May 24. The court has granted ED custody of the accused till May 28. The investigation was initiated following a prosecution complaint filed by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Nagpur, under Section 135 of the Customs Act, 1962. ED's findings suggest that Jaffer was involved in at least 13 such consignments, with the total value of smuggled red sanders estimated to be around Rs 68 crore, which excludes one consignment intercepted and seized by DRI when it was being attempted to be smuggled. The ED said Jaffer's name had also come up in other red sanders smuggling cases investigated by various DRI units, indicating he may be a habitual offender. During the Chennai raids, the ED seized several properties allegedly acquired using proceeds of the smuggling operation. These include land parcels, buildings, flats, luxury vehicles, and documents described as incriminating. The anti-money laundering agency is now trying to obtain details about Jaffer's syndicate members, his associates, and more about his nexus with government and non-government individuals, said sources in the ED.
