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BCCI invites title sponsorship bids
MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has invited bids for sponsorship rights for both international and domestic matches.
BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel through a statement has said that the marketing committee of the BCCI which met earlier has decided to finalise the ‘Invitation To Tender’ (ITT) for title sponsorship rights for both international and domestic matches for the period from September 2014 to 30 April 2015.
During the stipulated period, India will be seen playing against West Indies for three tests, five one day internationals and one T20 International.
The sponsorship rights will also extend to five domestic series like the Irani Cup, Ranji trophy, Duleep trophy, Vijay Hazare KO and Prof. D.B. Deodhar trophy.
Available at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, the ITT will be available from 11 am to 5 pm from 6 August to 26 August 2014. The tender fee has been priced at Rs 2 lakh.
Interested bidders will have to submit their bids by 11 am on 28 august 2014 after which the bids will be opened, evaluated and the tender be awarded in the presence of the bidders.
During the last season, Star India had won the sponsorship rights from 0ctober 2013 to March 2014 wherein it had agreed to pay Rs 2 crore per match.
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.
