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ESS takes fresh guard as SA tour gets underway
MUMBAI : It’s has been a long, hard winter as far as big ticket cricket is concerned for ESPN star Sports, and it’s finally coming to an end. After almost two years of managing without any A-list cricket tours or fixtures, ESS takes fresh guard on that front with India’s tour of South Africa.
From now till June-July 2008, ESS has an itinerary that boasts of big league cricket involving the Indian team every six months on average.
India’s 54-day tour to South Africa kicks off tomorrow and includes five One-Day Internationals and three Test matches. ESS will be broadcasting the ODI series in both English as well as Hindi feed.
ESPN will telecast the series in English with commentators Sunil Gavaskar, Harsha Bhogle, Allan Wilkins, Ravi Shastri and Wasim Akram joined in by South African Pat Symcox. The Hindi programming for the series on Star Sports will be spearheaded by India’s answer to Jay Leno Shekhar Suman, with expert commentary by Syed Kirmani, Wasim Akram, Arun Lal, Maninder Singh and Zaheer Abbas.
ESS has also been presenting Planet Cricket, a six episode cricketing travelogue covering the five venues on India’s calendar to South Africa. The series will cover the five cricket grounds of Centurion, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Durban with the sixth episode being the highlights of the previous five. The show, a preview series to India’s tour of South Africa, is hosted by Gautam Bhimani and airs its last episode today.
What will be worrisome for ESS (from a revenue mop-up perspective) is that the Indian team has been going through a lean phase, particularly in one-dayers since the tour of the West Indies in April this year. The team lost the one-day series in the Caribbean , failed to reach the final of the DLF Cup tri-series in Malaysia and were knocked out of the Champions Trophy before the semi-final stage.
And history doesn’t favour India in South Africa either. Since 1992, India has played nine tests in South Africa, without success against the African country. In the ODIs too, India has a dismal success rate in South Africa. Out of 16 one day internationals India has managed to win only three with the last one in the 2001/02 season.
So it is not just captain Rahul Dravid and coach Greg Chappell who will be praying for a change in India’s fortunes. Knowing the Indian public, a few wins by the Indian side and it will be back to hallelujahs all round.
Schedule of the India Vs South Africa ODI match series on ESPN Star Sports
| Date | Time | Event |
| 19 Nov | 18:00 | 1st ODI, New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg (D/N) |
| 22 Nov | 18:00 | 2nd ODI, Kingsmead, Durban (D/N) |
| 26 Nov | 13:30 | 3rd ODI, Newlands, Cape Town |
| 29 Nov | 18:00 | 4th ODI St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth, (D/N) |
| 3 Dec | 13:30 | 5th ODI, SuperSport Park, Centurion |
Schedule of the India Vs South Africa Test match series on Star Sports
| Date | Time | Event |
| 15-19 Dec 2006 | 14:00 | 1st Test Wanderers, Johannesburg |
| 26-30 Dec 2006 | 13:30 | 2nd Test Kingsmead, Durban |
| 2-6 Jan 2007 | 14:00 | 3rd Test Newlands, Cape Town |
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.
