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India-Australia: Fight to stay on top
MUMBAI: All cricket fans now have a one stop solution in the name of ESPN Star Sports. The BCCI’s marketing committee has awarded the rights for telecasting all international matches played in India to ESPN Software India and Star Sports at Rs 2 crore per match.
The first in line is the eagerly awaited India-Australia series to be played between 10 October and 2 November. In the docks are seven ODIs and one T20 match marking the total telecast value at Rs 16 crore; the last time India faced Australia, the guests were left sour-faced with a 4-0 defeat in a test series.
MSD and Michael Clarke will be locking horns on the field but locking hands off the field
India, the leader in ODI currently with 123 points, will fight Australia to retain the top position as the Aussies are second with 115 points. If Australia topples India with a comprehensive win then they will be the new kings while if India wins the series they retain their position.
With English commentary the series will be seen on ESPN and Star Cricket HD while Hindi commentary will be on Star Cricket. At the same time live streaming will be happening on their website www.starsports.com which will carry replays and highlights as well as content not shown on TV. A vigorous marketing campaign shouting out their theme ‘Fight for No 1’ has already kick-started.
Analyses of the matches before and after will also be on the lines of ‘Fight for No 1’. “As a broadcaster, we will ensure a world class telecast so that fans enjoy this high intensity contest,” says ESPN Software India COO Vijay Rajput.
“It is the mother of all series. 7 ODIs and a T20 against Australia during the Diwali season surely make it a really big series for us. India-Australia contests have always generated lots of interest amongst Cricket fans in the country,” adds Rajput. “Moreover, India’s national team has not been in action for close to two months now and fans would be eager to see them in action again.”
The bids that were made to BCCI were for just two series: India-Australia and India-West Indies but ESPN Software India and Star Sports India ended up bagging the rights for the whole 2013-14 season.
The Champions League T20 finals are just around the corner. But viewers need not be disappointed as the mega ODI series between the top two countries will begin right after.
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.
