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Indian cricketers sign ICC contract
MUMBAI: The fears about the a second-string Indian team representing India at the World Cup have been laid to rest. All the 15 members of the Indian World Cup squad today signed the International Cricket Council (ICC) Players Terms’ contract for the cricket carnival starting on 8 February.
How ever, the cricketers signed only after declaring their non-acceptance to a few contentious clauses and their agreement is subject to two main riders, sources claim. The sources also add that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and ICC have agreed to the above conditions.
The signed forms are now being sent to the BCCI which will forward it to the ICC, the Press Trust of India has reported. The ICC deadline for signing the contract was 14 January.
The cricketers are willing to persuade their sponsors not to air conflicting advertisements during the World Cup, and signed the contract only to that effect after making their position on the contentious issues clear.
“We are in contact with the BCCI. We have told the ICC what our problems are. We have given our terms and conditions. There are certain areas that need to be looked into,” Sourav Ganguly was quoted as saying in the PTI report.
“We all feel that, at the end of the day, it’s got to be an adjustment from both the sides. It can never be one-sided, whether it is the players or the ICC,” Ganguly was quoted as saying. “We have made our statement clear… this is what we can do and this is what we can’t. The rest is up to them.”
SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta reacted by stating: “It is a great relief. There won’t be any last-minute controversies or surprises now.”
MAX executive vice president and business head Rajat Jain says: “Excellent news! The Indian team’s decision to sign the agreement is a step in the right direction. It also ensures that there is no doubt or confusion in the minds of millions of Indian cricket fans. Now, the best Indian team will take a crack at the World Cup.”
Mudra Optimum Media Solutions’s executive vice president Amit Ray however, struck a discordant note: “If the news reports about the Indian cricketers persuading their sponsors to avoid airing conflicting advertisements are true, then it sets a bad precedent. The hapless sponsors had backed the cricketers and invested humungous amounts with the hope that they would be able to cash in on the cricketer’s popularity during high profile events such as the World Cup. Advertisers will think twice before signing on cricketers in the future.”
Another media executive who refused to be quoted claims that the cricketers “should have had the guts to stick to their guns” or “should not raised the issue in the first place if they were eventually going to sign.”
Percept Advertising CEO Rajesh Pant has an interesting viewpoint: “The challenge for clients is to ensure that they conceptualise advertisements that break through the clutter and create an impact. For instance, the Coke Aamir Khan commercial aired during the Champions Trophy in September 2002 was successful in ensuring that Coke managed to hold its own against the official sponsors Pepsi. Even the viewers lapped it up. Do the viewers remember the Pepsi ads aired during the same time?”
Incidentally, Percept D’Mark are the marketing agents managing cricketers such as Saurav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh and Mohammed Kaif. Percept’s Shailendra Singh and D’Mark’s Sanjay Lal were however unavailable for comment.
It looks as if the hurdles have been overcome and it is time for the Indian cricket team to concentrate on winning the World Cup. After all, money simply cannot buy the “honour” of entering the history books and being part of the winning team of World Cup 2003!
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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.
