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ICC maintains importance of TV broadcasts for third umpire
MUMBAI: The BCCI is caught between a rock and a hard place. At the moment it is caught up in a legal tussle with ESPN Star Sports and Zee regarding the rights to India cricket. Now the ICC has added to its worries by saying that third umpire decisions are a pre-requisite for the staging of international cricket matches.
The BCCI had requested the ICC to allow India’s upcoming home series against Australia to proceed without third umpire television coverage.
The ICC however shot down this request. ICC CEO Malcolm Speed said, “ICC is not able to agree to BCCI’s proposal. It is ICC’s policy that all international matches must have third umpire television coverage in place. ICC has revisited this policy recently and confirmed that it is one of the requirements for international cricket.
“While the ICC is aware of the litigation that is taking place concerning BCCI’s television rights, it is unable to waive the minimum requirement for television coverage for third umpires.”
Australia are scheduled to kick off their tour on 6 October. The legal dispute continues in the Mumbai High Court this afternoon. The window of opportunity for the BCCI is clearly shortening. As had been reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, Zee Telefilms had exhaustively put forward its argument on Friday.
The BCCI is following the court’s diktat that status quo be maintained on the issue of telecast rights. This rules out any further moves on the part of the BCCI to offer the piecemeal rights of the upcoming Australia series to national broadcaster Doordarshan.
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.
