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Sky Television renews 5 year contract with New Zealand Cricket
MUMBAI: Sky Television has renewed their contract by signing a new five-year deal and hereby secured exclusive rights to all domestic and international cricket coverage for another five years. This will give Sky and New Zealand Cricket exclusive rights until the end of the 2008-9 season.
All home test and one-day international will continue to be televised live on Sky, along with several rounds of the State Shield one-day series and the finals agency reports state.
NZC chief executive Martin Snedden is reported to have said that he was delighted with the five-year deal, which demonstrated the strength of interest in cricket nationally.
“The Black Caps are an exciting side and this coupled with the strength of State domestic cricket ensures that cricket is recognised as New Zealand’s summer game. Sky’s commitment to this partnership will ensure that the New Zealand public are provided with quality cricket coverage until 2009,” added Snedden.
New Zealand Vs Sri Lanka, the first home series will rake place in December and will include five one-day internationals and two tests. The home series will be followed by a visit from Australia in February which will comprise five one-day internationals and three tests.
The cricketing agenda in 2005-6 is scheduled for New Zealand to host Zimbabwe and the West Indies, in 2006-7 Bangladesh and India, in 2007-08 Sri Lanka and England, and in 2008-09 Pakistan and Australia.
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.
