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BCCI awards ground rights for Abu Dhabi Series to PDM International
MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has awarded PDM International the contract for ground rights for the Indo-Pak Friendship Series to be held in Abu Dhabi. PDM bid $ 3.61 million for the rights, outbidding Abu Dhabi Cricket Club with a slim margin.
The one-day series will be held on 18 and 19 April. The third participant in the bidding, Nimbus, was disqualified for not fulfilling the Tender conditions.
BCCI Marketing Sub Committee VP & chairman Lalit Modi said, ”it is good to see corporates interested in associating with this series and more importantly the cause for which it is being played. Out of the three companies that submitted the ground rights tender, the BCCI Marketing Sub Committee awarded the rights to PDM International that had the requisite qualifications and experience as per the conditions listed in the Invitation to Tender. We now look forward to a positive and lasting association with them”.
These matches are being played for the earthquake relief victims that affected millions of people in the subcontinent. 75 per cent of the proceeds will go to Pakistan, while 25 per cent of the proceeds will go to India. The India and Pakistan players have also agreed to waive their match fees towards this cause.
Announcing the development, PDM International MD & CEO Sanjay Lal said, “We launched PDM India with a focused objective and today we have made our first step towards achieving this objective. We completely support this cause and deeply relate to it. We are happy to contribute in our own way by attaining the rights to this series. We will be announcing the title sponsor along with the other on-ground partners shortly.”
Billed as the ‘Friendship Series’, this will be the first time in nearly eight years that India and Pakistan will play in a bilateral series on a neutral venue. BCCI & PCB have decided to play 15-25 games over the next 5 years at a neutral venue and these are the first 2 ties to be played, states an official release.
There are a large number of expatriates in the UAE and they will be treated to an Indo-Pak cricket affair after nearly 6 years. These matches will be played at the Zayed stadium, which boasts of state-of-the-art facilities and a capacity of 18,000 spectators.
PDM has been in the sports and entertainment arena since 1995 and have already made their mark in the subcontinent. They have worked very closely with organizations like Levers, Sahara P&G, Airtel and Hero Honda. In the past year, PDM entered the International arena and have worked in countries like the US, UK and UAE. This development signals the entry of PDM into the big league, the release adds.
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.
