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Eurosport India acquires broadcast rights for Bihar Cricket League
MUMBAI: Eurosport and Eurosport HD India have acquired the broadcast rights for Bihar Cricket League (BCL)- a T20 League organised by Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) and Elite Sports Management.
The league is currently underway at the URJA Stadium in Patna and will go on till 26 March. Eurosport has expanded its current portfolio of live cricket offerings with the current edition of BCL. A subsidiary of Discovery, the channel had also broadcasted the ODI series between UAE and Ireland early this year.
The league will witness five teams – Angika Avengers, Bhagalpur Bulls, Darbhanga Diamonds, Gaya Gladiators, and Patna Pilots competing with each other for the winner’s trophy. Former international cricketers including Sanath Jayasuriya, RP Singh, Danny Morrison, Venkatesh Prasad, and Tillakaratne Dilshan are associated as team mentors.
The next match between Patna Pilots and Bhagalpur Bulls will be live on Eurosport and Eurosport HD on Monday from 6:00 PM IST onward.
Eurosport India head & Discovery SVP – affiliate sales & product distribution, Asia – India sales & distribution Vijay Rajput said, “It has been our constant endeavor to bring varied sports from across regions to our fans. In the past few years, the advent of the T20 leagues has helped talent from every nook and corner of the country to find a stage and we are sure this league will follow suit. We are looking forward to a week of some exciting cricket action.”
Despite having one of the oldest cricket associations in the country, Bihar has been starved of quality cricket for the past 16 years, said Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) president Rakesh Tiwari. "The Bihar cricket league (BCL) is a big hope for the future and we are very confident that this is the start of better days for Bihar cricket and the young cricketers of the state,” he added.
Bihar Cricket League schedule:
M6 – Patna Pilots Vs Bhagalpur Bulls (22 March, 6:00 pm)
M7 – Patna Pilots Vs Darbhanga Diamonds (23 March, 2:00 pm)
M8 – Gaya Gladiators Vs Angika Avengers (23 March, 6:00pm)
M9 – Angika Avengers Vs Bhagalpur Bulls (24 March, 2:00 pm)
M10 – Gaya Gladiators Vs Patna Pilots (24 March, 6:00 pm)
M11 – Semi Final 1 – (1 Vs 4) (25 March, 2:00pm)
M12 – Semifinal 2 – (2 Vs 3) (25 March, 6:00pm)
M13 – Grand FINALE (Winner of SF1 and SF2) (26 March, 4:00 pm)
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.
