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BCCI ‘almost certain’ to give India-Pak tour rights to DD
NEW DELHI: The Indian cricket board is toying with the idea of handing over the telecast rights of the upcoming India-Pakistan home series to pubcaster Doordarshan, while giving the non-India rights to a neutral broadcaster.
A senior official of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today told indiantelevision.com that barring last-minute hitches, it’s “almost certain” that DD would get the telecast rights for the India region as the Board doesn’t want to kick up more dust by inviting bids, which is sure to raise the hackles of the warring Zee Telefilms and ESPN Star Sports.
“It may also happen that for non-India rights, a broadcaster apart from ESS and Zee is given the rights,” the BCCI official said. This could mean that either SET India or Ten Sports, both of whom lost out in the earlier rounds of financial fisticuffs, could be a contender.
What may put a spoke in the BCCI wheel is the legal cover that ESS has already sought by moving an application in the Supreme Court that for the India-Pak series BCCI cannot ignore it and award the rights arbitrarily to somebody else without studying its claims too.
The BCCI official, however, was not ready to hold forth on a concrete time frame for making an announcement regarding telecast rights of the India-Pakistan series. “Ideally, it should have been tied up, but now should be done as soon as possible,” the official added.
DD has admitted that it has been in touch with BCCI for the India-Pakistan series that can turn out to be financially lucrative considering the mass hysteria such clashes generate in the sub-continent.
However, the uncertainty that hangs over the telecast issue is not proving to be good for the BCCI or Indian cricket, the official admitted.
Yesterday, in a lethal bouncer that almost knocked out Zee Telefilms completely, the Supreme Court ruled that the Indian cricket board was not a ‘State’ as defined under Article 12 of the Indian Constitution and, hence, cannot be sued for alleged violation of fundamental rights.
However, the apex court also suggested that some lower court could take up such cases under Article 226. The three-two split SC ruling is important, as the Indian cricket board’s case would have major impact on the autonomy of various sports bodies in the country and their subsequent functioning.
Dismissing the case, the court observed, “The petitioner has failed to establish that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is a state body.”
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.
