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IPL Governing Council proposes 2 new teams; total 10 teams after CSK, RR ban lifts
MUMBAI: A moment of respite and glory may come for Multi Screen Media (MSM) – the official broadcaster of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the league’s governing council floated a proposal of adding two new teams to replace the suspended Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) spot.
Additionally, the IPL governing council also proposed that after the two year ban was lifted from both the teams, the IPL will be a 10 team affair.
“One suggestion is to have two new teams only for two years and replace them with CSK and RR in 2018 when they come back,” an IPL GC member told PTI today (27 August).
“The second suggestion is to make it 10 teams from 2018 onwards once the two suspended franchises complete their sentence,” he added.
The council’s two proposals will be put forward to the BCCI Working Committee on 28 August.
MSM holds the broadcasting rights of IPL till 2018, which means that the last season of its IPL broadcasting tenure will be an elongated one with 10 teams. Trade media experts and economists believes that the MSM will make a profit from the revenue generated in the 2018 edition. If the proposal is accepted, it will be icing on the cake for MSM as 10 teams means more number of matches and subsequently a longer time span to monetise.
The broadcaster raked in more than Rs 1000 crore in 2015 edition of the multi million dollar tourney. It may be recalled that MSM bagged the IPL broadcasting rights for a whopping $1 billion.
Broadcasters, who are gearing up to bid for the IPL telecast rights when it comes up for grasp again, are making their permutations and combinations to bid for the tournament. It’s no rocket science that they will be following the developments closely.
Now it remains to be seen whether CSK and RR players are relieved by their respective franchises and are allowed to participate in next edition of IPL.
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.
