News Headline
No solution in sight to ICC woes
MUMBAI: ICC chief Malcolm Speed was in Mumbai today on a mission. To try and thrash out some resolution to a problem that has literally blown up in the face of cricket’s world governing body.
But going by the information available with indiantelevision.com, what came out of those meetings with the likes of SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta and World Sport Nimbus co-chairman Harish Thawani, among others, was not a whole lot.
Dasgupta and Rajat Jain, executive V-P – SET MAX, are caught in a real blaster of a bind regarding the goings on what with the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka barely three weeks away. Having plonked down a whopping $ 255 million for the C&S telecast rights for ICC organised cricket for the next six years, they would have been hoping to kick off the proceedings with a big splash at the Champions Trophy.
The uncertainty has, however meant that Sony is still to tie up its ad sales deals for the upcoming tournament.
The Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI), meanwhile, has readied a B team list which opens the possibility of the exclusion of India’s Big Three of Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid as well as Virendra Sehwag from the team to Sri Lanka in the event that they refuse to sign the controversial ICC contract (assuming of course the others do) by noon tomorrow. The Indian cricketers’ spokesperson Ravi Shastri has however, ruled out any change in the players’ stance, going so far as to say that if the BCCI wants to send a B team they are free to do so but the players will not relent.
After a meeting in Bangalore today, BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya said the selectors had been asked to identify 20 probables for the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka. He said the board had also told the ICC, it would accept the contract terms for one tournament but added it hoped “the contract will be renegotiated or redrafted”.
The last date for signing on the ICC contract has already elapsed. Even then, India, Australia, West Indies and England are yet to sign.
Dalmiya’s proposal, however, looks to be a no brainer from the outset as the clauses in the deal that the individual boards have reached with the ICC are clear that the best team will be sent out. And if this doesn’t happen then SET as well as the main sponsors like Hero Honda, LG and Pepsi (for the subcontinent) will be well within their rights to demand from the ICC that they be compensated as they are not getting the full value for which they doled out all that moolah in the first place.
And the ICC is certainly not helping its own cause with what is seen as intransigence on its part. The players’ grievances have been articulated most strongly by Australian ex-cricketer Tim May who is the joint CEO of the Federation of International Cricketers Association (FICA) who has called the governing body “bully boys” after the ICC sent out guidelines restricting player images (for players’s own sponsors) for up to six months after one of their events. The ICC wants players to relinquish conflicting endorsements before, during and after tournaments to prevent “ambush marketing” by rival sponsors.
“The ICC has not only failed to consult players when giving away their rights, but has also failed to communicate such restrictions and obligations,” May has been quoted as saying.
The crisis is certainly far from blowing over that’s for sure.
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.
