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BCCI sweetens the pot for bidders of India rights
MUMBAI: In a move that seems to be aimed at luring big spenders from the broadcasting industry, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) CEO Rahul Johri, at an event in Mumbai, announced that a detailed calendar of the Indian cricket team’s touring programme from 2019 to 2023 would be made available to the public. The announcement could come as a big relief for broadcasters that are planning to bid for the upcoming BCCI rights on 27 March 2018.
Johri said, “There is a four-year FTP (future tours programme) cycle that we follow. The BCCI has negotiated the FTP cycle for the Indian team from 2019 to 2023. For the first time, five years in advance, you’ll have a day-date wise calender of the Indian team’s programme.”
Dsport is not bidding for the rights in the upcoming online auction while Star India and Sony have their hands full with other leagues and tournament rights.
Recently, the BCCI also introduced central contracts for Indian cricketers. Two new categories were introduced: category A+ introduced for senior men and category C for senior women.
Speaking about the decision, Johri said: “We are proud that the Indian cricket team is the best in the world in all the formats. The women’s team reached the final of the World Cup, the U-19 team won the World Cup. So, we have to give them the best infrastructure and the best support.”
He added that the best part about the central contracts, which were announced earlier this week, was the focus on domestic cricket because that is the bedrock of the Indian cricket. “Until now, the domestic players would get the actual compensation after one-and-a-half-years. What has been done now is the match fee of the domestic cricketers has been raised from Rs 10,000 to Rs 35,000 per day. And they get the match fee after playing the games. Domestic players’ earnings are not dependent on the number of games team India plays. That is where the change will come,” he added.
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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.
