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ESPN Star Sports moves court on India cricket rights
MUMBAI / NEW DELHI: In an expected move, ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) has approached the courts in a last-ditch attempt to reverse the decision by the Board for Cricket Control in India (BCCI) to award the India cricket telecast rights for the next four years to Zee Telefilms.
This during a week when one of its American parents – ESPN – is celebrating its silver jubilee year. And at a time when ESPN’s contracts with both the NFL and and Major League Baseball the heart of its programming in the US for years are close to expiring.
An official communiqué issued late this evening states that ESS has “challenged BCCI’s decision to award conditional allotment of rights for all cricket to be played in India to the Zee Network in the Mumbai High Court.”
Justifying the move, Rik Dovey, managing director, ESS, Asia was quoted in the release as saying, “Unfortunately, we are left with no other option but to resort to the law in an attempt to bring fair-dealing and justice to the process. ESPN STAR Sports was the highest eligible bidder under the rules of bidding specified by the BCCI and now the BCCI has changed the entire process of bidding in violation of rules set by BCCI themselves to favor our competitor by giving them an unfair advantage.”
Zee Telefilms meanwhile, had filed a caveat in the High Court yesterday itself in anticipation of ESS moving the courts, company spokesperson Ashish Kaul says.
While the matter is expected to come up for hearing in the Mumbai High Court on Tuesday, 7 September, the BCCI has said it had not received any legal notice thus far. Professor Ratnakar Shetty, joint secretary of the board, told Wisden Cricinfo, “I was in the BCCI office till 6 pm and at that stage we had not been served any notice.” The BCCI office, in stadium house, on the premises of the Brabourne Stadium, officially functions till 5 pm. Even an hour later than that they had not received any word regarding a legal notice.
Explaining the basis of taking legal recourse, ESPN Software India managing director RC Venkateish was quoted in the ESS release as saying, “As described in the terms of the BCCI tender document Zee should not have been allowed to bid in the first place. Zee does not qualify because it does not have any experience of broadcasting or producing live international cricket event as specified in the tender. Clearly the required technical evaluation of the bids has not been carried out.”
“On Sunday the BCCI changed the rules to unfairly disadvantage our bid without giving us any further rights to bid,” Venkateish added.
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.
