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Max to air Tsunami charity match
MUMBAI: To help victims of the Tsunami natural disaster the International Cricket Council (ICC) will organise a World Cricket Tsunami Appeal fund-raising game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on 10 January.
In India the match will air on Max from 8:40 am.
Sony CEO Kunal Dasgupta said, “We are privileged to be able to play our part by airing this extremely important and crucial One-Day match on Max. This will be one of the many initiatives that Set India is taking up toward helping victims of the recent Tsunami havoc in South East Asia.”
ICC president Ehsan Mani said, ”Max is a valued broadcast partner of the ICC. It is pleasing that it has agreed to broadcast this important match at very short notice in the region directly affected by this disaster. I hope that this match will help us to raise valuable funds to help the relief effort.”
Sony has also come up with a series of Public Service Announcements urging viewers to contribute to help Tsunami victims. Sony’s employees are donating a day’s salary along with other essentials and necessities towards relief.
Returning to the cricket the 50-over one day match will see an ICC World XI taking on an Asia Cricket Council XI. The teams will be led by Australian captain Ricky Ponting and India’s skipper Saurav Ganguly.
The Asia team includes Sri Lanka’s explosive opener Sanath Jayasuriya, Rahul Dravid and spin wiz Muttiah Muralitharan. They take on a World X1 which includes another spin wiz Shane Warne, the only man to score 400 in one innings West Indian Brian Lara and Darren Gough. The team will also be managed by former Australia captain Steve Waugh.
Meanwhile the ICC has stated that it sold nearly 20,000 seats in one day. Tickets for the match went on sale a couple of days ago. ICC CEO Malcolm Speed said, “To sell almost 20,000 tickets in half a day is a fantastic result and augers well for creating a strong atmosphere at the fund-raising game on Monday. It is a tremendous reflection of the strength of the international cricket community – fans and organisers – to come together to support the Tsunami Appeal.”
Cricket Australia, Cricket Victoria, and the Melbourne Cricket Club, who are organising the match on behalf of the ICC, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the Federation of International Cricketers’ Association, are hoping to fill the 80,000 capacity seat MCG.
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.
