News Headline
ESPN Launches Legends of Cricket Series
MUMBAI: Sports broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports today announced the launch of Legends Of Cricket , featuring the worlds greatest cricketers past and present.
Starting Monday, 30 September at 8:30 pm, this new series will provide highlights of the lives of the worlds greatest cricketers.
The Cricket Legends were selected by a judging panel comprising Ian Chappell, Richie Benaud, Sunil Gavaskar, Dickie Bird, Mike Procter, Michael Holding, Martin Crowe, Wasim Akram, Ian Botham, Allan Border, Sir Richard Hadlee, Christopher Martin Jenkins, Tony Cozier, John Knowles and Robin Marlar.
Legends Of Cricket, starting 30 September, will be telecast Monday through Friday at prime time from 8:30 to 9:15 pm. The prime time slot has been carefully chosen to enable every cricket lover to watch this unique program conveniently, an official release says.
The first episode of Legends Of Cricket will cover 25 cricket legends ranked 50 to 26 and, the following 25 episodes will focus on each of the top 25 individual cricketers starting with Allan Border and serialised in a count down to the number one cricket legend of all time, Sir Don Bradman.
Each episode (from 25 to 1 in a countdown) will offer a brief on the cricketing legends, his early years, his greatest accomplishments, the high point of his career and the legacy he leaves behind. Apart from the rare never-seen before footage, each episode also offers views and comments by the legends on themselves as well as others.
The following Legends have made to the list prepared by ESPNs judging panel and will be featured on ESPN every weekday at 8:30 pm starting 30 September.
Legends 50 to 26 September 30
Allan Border Australia 1 October
Barry Richards South Africa 2 October
Steve Waugh Australia 3 October
Kapil Dev India 4 October
Wasim Akram Pakistan 7 October
Sir Leonard Hutton England 8 October
Sir Frank Worrell West Indies 9 October
George Headley West Indies 10 October
Greg Chappell Australia 11 October
Malcolm Marshall West Indies 14 October
Graeme Pollock South Africa 15 October
WG Grace England 16 October
Keith Miller Australia 17 October
Sir Richard Hadlee New Zealand 18 October
Ian Botham England 21 October
Sunil Gavaskar India 22 October
Wally Hammond England 28 October
Imran Khan Pakistan 24 October
Sachin Tendulkar India 25 October
Dennis Lillee Australia 28 October
Sir Jack Hobbs England 29 October
Shane Warne Australia 30 October
Sir Vivian Richards West Indies 31 October
Sir Garfield Sobers West Indies 1 November
Sir Donald Bradman Australia 4 November
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.
