News Headline
BCCI to incur loss of Rs 2500 crore if IPL’s called off: Sourav Ganguly
KERALA: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly has revealed that the governing body will incur a loss of Rs 2,500 crore should the suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 be called off for good. This year’s IPL was cancelled earlier this week after the bio-secure bubble was invaded by the Coronavirus and several players and team staff contracted the disease.
“If we fail to complete the IPL, the loss will be close to Rs 2500 crore ($340 million approximately). That is going by early estimates,” Ganguly told The Telegraph.
The former Indian skipper added that the BCCI will have to dig deep to carve out a window in the busy international calendar to find slots for the remaining 31 matches in this year’s IPL. Ganguly also hinted that the board will soon communicate with other cricket bodies to find a possible window in 2021.
He made it clear that the suspension of this year’s IPL will not be a blow to the world’s richest T20 league.
“I wouldn’t say it is a blow. Don’t forget last year we had no Wimbledon or Olympics. These are extraordinary times and we have to take it in our stride and move on. We can’t do much in these situations. Perhaps we have to only wait for things to improve,” asserted Ganguly.
As for whether the current situation puts the status of the ICC T20 World Cup in jeopardy, Ganguly suggested that assuming anything right now won’t be right.
“Let’s see what happens to the World T20. There’s still some time left and we don’t know how things will pan out a month later. Can’t comment right now. But let’s not assume things,” said the Dada of Indian cricket.
Ganguly added that the BCCI is doing whatever it can to expedite foreign cricketers safe departure from India. Eight English players and five South African players have already reached home. Due to the international travel restrictions, Australian players will initially travel to the Maldives. After 10 days of quarantine, they will fly to their homeland.
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.
