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ESPN Cricinfo to bring more original programming
MUMBAI: After introducing shows like Match Day, On the Road, Polite Enquiries, and Two Men Out at the time of World T20, ESPN Cricinfo has added on to the cricket fever this IPL with The Friendly Toast to provide comprehensive coverage and quality insights that Cricinfo has always provided to its fans through television. The website has plans to bring in more original programming with some of its shows on television.
Aired daily on Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD, The Friendly Toast at 8.30 am provides fans with a sharp reading of the game, making sense of the numbers and honest analysis of the day’s play – All of this in a fun and entertaining manner through the gamified interface of experts ‘owning’ teams for the duration of the show. Some of the most respected voices in cricket such as Ajit Agarkar, Daryll John Cullian, Dirk Peter Nannes and Iain Edward O’ Brien present the match analysis.
Speaking with Indiantelevision.com, ESPN Cricinfo India and South Asia editor-in-chief Sambit Bal said, “There is only an Extra Innings on Sony and we thought there is place for another show which has fun. But at the same time we wanted to break the traditional Cricinfo where when we talk cricket we talk numbers, we talks statistics mixed with a game format. We are trying to have cricket talk in that narrative where four people are playing a game and that’s creating a story of its own. When we were conceiving the show, we wanted to create something that brought the cricket analysis and engaged the cricket viewers with the show at the same time.”
Talking about the joint content creation package with Sony, Bal revealed, “ESPN is the world’s number one television company in sports and we have a partnership with Sony which does sports. So it is very clear that we will bring programming. At the time of World T20 we had a Match Day which was the studio show on Sony ESPN and soon you will see a Crickinfo show on TV, there is EURO coming, which will bring a football show.”
Whether original programming opens up the avenues for revenues, Bal replied “Nobody is in the business to not make money. Of course we hope that this will bring money. Also, in our effort to continuously build the ESPN brand in India, the IPL season is a great opportunity to engage fans in a way that keeps them coming back for more. Primarily the IPL audience that is following the game day to day is looking for analysis of the day’s play as a means to augment their cricket discussions.”
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
