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IPL 2014 auction to be held on 12 February
MUMBAI: The seventh edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to begin its auction early next year with eight teams in the fray. The Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) has announced that the auction for the new edition will be held on 12 February and if needed will be extended to 13 February 2014 as well. An embargo has been placed on franchisees approaching players from other teams before 11 January.
A minimum of 16 players and a maximum of 27 players will be allowed to be auctioned to each of the eight teams in which only nine overseas players can be included. In a match, only four international players can play. Last year, franchisees could have 33 players including 11 from overseas.
Players can stay in a franchisee for a year and then have an extension of a year or two as compared to the one year restriction that was imposed last year. This has to be exercised before 15 December. Maximum of five players from the 2013 squad can be retained before the auction that can include both capped and uncapped players, the contract for which must be submitted to the BCCI on or before 10 January.
The first capped player who will be retained will be charged Rs 12.5 crore and Rs 4 crore for each uncapped player retained. These players will not be auctioned. The minimum requirement for catchment area players has been removed.
The cap for the IPL fees for an entire squad is Rs 60 crore that will increase by 5 per cent per annum for 2015 and 2016 while the minimum would be Rs 36 crore. The fees will now be denominated in rupees for Indian players and international players can have it in their own currency. Last year’s entire squad cost $ 12.5 million.
One addition has been made to the auction with ‘rights to match’ (RTM) available to a franchise depending on number of retained players. For five to three players, one RTM is allowed, for one or two, two RTM is given and three RTM will be given if no players from last year is retained. RTM will allow franchisees to have a final call on the bid price after which no other franchise can bid on it.
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.
