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ICC attorneys issue caution notice to protect official sponsors
MUMBAI: With the World Cup less than a month away, the International Cricket Council is pulling all stops to make sure its official sponsors are not harmed in any manner through ambush marketing.
A caution notice issued by ICC attorneys-at-law Sen-Oberoi says that the ICC controls commercial rights for its events including the 2003 World Cup, scheduled to take place in South Africa. The names of the official sponsors have also been mentioned which include Pepsi, Hero Honda, LG, MTN and SET MAX.
Sen-Oberoi have stated that their clients ICC and ICC Cricket World Cup’s official partners/sponsors are the only ones allowed to associate themselves with the event. Only the official sponsors are authorised to conduct contests, travel packages and schemes relating to the World Cup. The use of tickets as prizes in contests or schemes by any other party is prohibited as it amounts to an act of ambush marketing, the notice in leading dailies yesterday states.
The statutory ad follows on the heels of an announcement made in December 2002, warning fans not to buy tickets through unauthorised channels for the ICC Cricket World Cup. Clifford Green of Edward Nathan and Friedland, the lawyer acting for CWC had identified various piracy operations involving the selling of tickets at inflated prices. Green had said that some unauthorised operators were also advertising hospitality packages. Such moves fell foul of the official process.
Green had warned people doing business with dubious operators that their tickets could be cancelled out of the system ahead of the cricket World Cup.
The authorised agents are the normal selling channels at the grounds, on the official website www.cricketworldcup.com and via the call centre on 083 123 2003. Green had pointed out that the ‘marks’ of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 the logo and mascot in particular may not be copied onto merchandise.
Watch this space for further developments on the World Cup.
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.
