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ESS, Zee, Ten Sports pick up telecast rights for 20-20 cricket
MUMBAI: ESPN Star Sports (ESS), Zee Sports and Ten Sports will telecast the 20-20 World Cricket Classic event in India. The International series, organised by the Get Fit Foundation (GEFF) and Blakesport, will be held in Bermuda from 23 April to 29 April.
Ten Sports will telecast the series in the Asia and the Middle East regions, while ESS will cater to its Asian viewers only. Zee has opted to telecast the series only in India. Channel Five (UK), CMC (Caribbean), Sky TV (New Zealand), MNET Supersport (Africa) and Fox Sports (Australia) will telecast the event in the respective regions.
The Classic series is the World’s first ever 20-20 International Cricket Tournament, involving teams from England, India, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Bermuda whose World Cup team take on the Windies’ legends in the tournament’s opening match.
The event features over 100 of the greatest international cricketing legends, such as, Ian Healy, Robin Smith, Rodney Hogg, Devon Malcolm, Aravinda De Silva, Greg Blewett, Chris Lewis, Phil Defreitas, Dion Nash, Trevor Franklin, Joel Garner, Gary Kirsten, Ajay Jadeja and Danny Morrison, states an official release.
The event will be covered by the UK production company Sunset+Vine, which will produce a one hour highlights programme. The series will be produced and directed by Gary Franses.
Terry Blake of Blakesport, GEFF’s TV consultant says, “We are delighted that the event has already attracted such substantial broadcast support from around the world and look forward to working with our broadcast and production partners on the first event in April.”
Jeff Foulser of Sunset+Vine states, “Having produced Test Cricket in the UK for the last seven years, we delighted to be involved with such an exciting international event.”
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.
