MAM
Indian cricketers sign ICC contract
MUMBAI: Fears about a second-string Indian team representing India at the World Cup have been laid to rest. All the 15 members of the Indian World Cup squad today signed the International Cricket Council (ICC) Players Terms’ contract for the cricket carnival starting on 8 February.
However, the cricketers signed only after declaring their non-acceptance to a few contentious clauses and their agreement is subject to two main riders, sources claim. The sources also add that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and ICC have agreed to the above conditions.
The signed forms are now being sent to the BCCI which will forward it to the ICC, the Press Trust of India has reported. The ICC deadline for signing the contract was 14 January.
The cricketers are willing to persuade their sponsors not to air conflicting advertisements during the World Cup, and signed the contract only to that effect after making their position on the contentious issues clear.
“We are in contact with the BCCI. We have told the ICC what our problems are. We have given our terms and conditions. There are certain areas that need to be looked into,” Sourav Ganguly was quoted as saying in the PTI report.
“We all feel that, at the end of the day, it’s got to be an adjustment from both the sides. It can never be one-sided, whether it is the players or the ICC,” Ganguly was quoted as saying. “We have made our statement clear… this is what we can do and this is what we can’t. The rest is up to them.”
SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta reacted by stating: “It is a great relief. There won’t be any last-minute controversies or surprises now.”
MAX executive vice president and business head Rajat Jain says: “Excellent news! The Indian team’s decision to sign the agreement is a step in the right direction. It also ensures that there is no doubt or confusion in the minds of millions of Indian cricket fans. Now, the best Indian team will take a crack at the World Cup.”
Mudra Optimum Media Solutions’s executive vice president Amit Ray however, struck a discordant note: “If the news reports about the Indian cricketers persuading their sponsors to avoid airing conflicting advertisements are true, then it sets a bad precedent. The hapless sponsors had backed the cricketers and invested humungous amounts with the hope that they would be able to cash in on the cricketer’s popularity during high profile events such as the World Cup. Advertisers will think twice before signing on cricketers in the future.”
Another media executive who refused to be quoted claims that the cricketers “should have had the guts to stick to their guns” or “should not raised the issue in the first place if they were eventually going to sign.”
Percept Advertising CEO Rajesh Pant has an interesting viewpoint: “The challenge for clients is to ensure that they conceptualise advertisements that break through the clutter and create an impact. For instance, the Coke Aamir Khan commercial aired during the Champions Trophy in September 2002 was successful in ensuring that Coke managed to hold its own against the official sponsors Pepsi. Even the viewers lapped it up. Do the viewers remember the Pepsi ads aired during the same time?”
Incidentally, Percept D’Mark are the marketing agents managing cricketers such as Saurav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh and Mohammed Kaif. Percept’s Shailendra Singh and D’Mark’s Sanjay Lal were however unavailable for comment.
It looks as if the hurdles have been overcome and it is time for the Indian cricket team to concentrate on winning the World Cup. After all, money simply cannot buy the “honour” of entering the history books and being part of the winning team of World Cup 2003!
ICC attorneys issue caution notice to protect official sponsors
Buying family medical insurance online in India has become a common option for individuals who want to secure health coverage for multiple family members under a single policy. However, many buyers are unsure about the exact steps involved in selecting and purchasing the right plan online.
In this guide, you will know the step-by-step process of buying family medical insurance online in India, along with the key factors to review before purchasing a suitable policy.
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This step gives a clearer understanding of how the policy works before payment is made. It also helps avoid confusion caused by incomplete summaries on other pages.
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A family medical insurance policy should be compared on factors beyond the premium. Review the sum insured, hospital network, room rent limits, pre- and post-hospitalisation cover, daycare treatment coverage, and waiting periods. It is also important to check treatment sub-limits and specific policy conditions.
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Use the online premium calculator before making the final choice. Enter the correct details, including age, city, number of insured members, and selected cover amount. The result helps in understanding the expected premium and whether the policy fits the annual budget. This step is useful because it allows cost and coverage to be reviewed together, instead of choosing a plan only because the premium looks lower.
Step 6: Fill in Personal and Medical Details
When filling in the proposal form, provide accurate details for each insured member. This includes name, date of birth, contact details, medical history, ongoing treatment, and previous insurance information if required.
Every answer should be complete and truthful. Incorrect or missing details can create difficulty later. Before you submit the form, read every section again and correct any mistakes.
Step 7: Make Payment Through the Secure Payment Gateway
After checking the form, go to the payment page and complete the transaction through the secure payment gateway. Review the premium, policy term, and entered details once more before confirming payment.
After the transaction is completed, save the receipt, reference number, or confirmation message carefully. Keeping this record is useful if you need to track the purchase or follow up on policy issuance later.
Step 8: Download and Keep Your Policy Document Safely
Once the policy is issued, download the policy document, schedule, and any related papers without delay. Read them carefully to confirm member names, policy period, sum insured, and major terms. Save a digital copy in a secure folder and keep a printed copy if needed. Proper record keeping makes future renewals, document checks, and policy servicing easier and more organised when information is required quickly.
Conclusion
Buying health cover online becomes easier when you handle each step with attention. From checking your family’s needs to reading the final document, every stage helps you make an informed choice. A careful approach can reduce mistakes, improve your understanding of policy terms, and help you choose coverage that matches your household’s medical needs, financial capacity, and long-term healthcare planning in a reliable way for your family over the long term.
