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BCCI to invite fresh bids for TV rights
MUMBAI: After a controversial telecast rights saga, which had kept the rights of domestic cricket in limbo, the Indian cricket board has decided to invite fresh bids.
The norms and guidelines are to be framed by a marketing committee to be set up soon, according to Press Trust of India (PTI) report.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) working committee, which met in Thiruvananthapuram over the past two days, also decided to file a Rs 100 million defamation suit against Netaji Cricket Club of Chennai (NCC) for dragging it to court over the legality of last year’s elections, the agency report stated.
The Committee authorised Board president Ranbir Singh Mahendra to take a decision on Vice President Kamal Morarka’s complaint against Rajasthan Cricket Association chief Lalit Modi.
Morarka had alleged that Modi was convicted on charges of kidnapping and smuggling in the US 20 years ago and demanded the later’s removal from all posts in the Board, the agency reported.
Besides ratifying the appointment of Greg Chappell as the national coach, the board decided on the future itinerary of the Indian cricket team.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Mahendra said the Board decided to spare Tamil Nadu Cricket Association of any stringent action including suspension of grants and financial assistance provided the latter assured it would not co-operate with the two of its affiliates, the Bharti Club and the Theyagaraya Cricket Club, who have filed a series of petitions against the BCCI, the agency reported.
The appointment of a media manager for the Board would be decided by September this year.
BCCI vice-president Kamal Morarka, who had flown back to Mumbai after the first day, said with the Supreme Court upholding the Board’s decision to cancel the contract provisionally awarded to Zee Network, the decks were cleared for a fresh tender process.
“The marketing committee comprises the president, the secretary and the vice presidents of the Board. The president will decide if anyone should be included as well,” Morarka said.
“The dates of inviting the tenders, as well as the norms like the period of rights, will be decided by the marketing Committee,” he 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.
