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SPN India acquires TV, OTT rights for T10 Cricket League
MUMBAI: The newly introduced T10 Cricket league (TCL), which will be played at the UAE’s Sharjah Cricket Stadium, will be telecast live on Sony ESPN. The league is a four-day event running from the 14th to the 17th of December 2017.
TCL chairman Shaji-ul-Mulk told Indiantelevision.com that Sony Pictures Network (SPN) India has the digital rights as well. “The history is being made with the first ever 10-over-a-side match being played in the world with the approval of the ICC (International Cricket Council). Seventy international cricketers from different countries will participate in the league,” Mulk added.
The league will be live on ARY digital network for the US and UK markets, Channels 9 in Bangladesh, Ten Sports and Geo TV in Pakistan, and Orbit Showtime Network (OSN) in the Middle East and North Africa.
Virender Sehwag is the only Indian cricketer participating the league apart from current and former international players from Sri Lanka, England, West Indies, South Africa, among other countries.
The league will have six franchises—Punjabi Legends, Pakhtoons, Bengal Tigers, Team Sri Lanka Cricket, Maratha Arabians, and Kerala Kings. The inaugural edition of the league will have 13 matches, 10 overs a side, and 90 minutes of play in a single match.
The Heera Group from Hyderabad is the title sponsor for the tournament. The partnership was unveiled at the Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad as part of the Indywood Film Festival at the film city on 2 December 2017. The league is powered by the UAE’s Pacific Ventures and supported by the Rijas Group from Pakistan.
Speaking at the event, Heera Group founder and CEO Nowhera Shaik said, “As a business group, we have always backed innovative ideas. That has been a hallmark of our approach to business. So, when this concept came along, I was keen that we get associated with it as we ourselves come from the land where cricket is followed passionately.”
The brains behind the concept, Shaji-ul-Mulk, who is the chairman of TCL and a member of the Emirates Cricket Board, was also present at the event in India. He said, “Since the advent of T20 cricket, I always felt that there could be something else that our sport could offer the world. It was then that I sat down to discuss with my team. We came up with the thought that cricket needs to match the best sporting action in the world. Most of these sports last no more than 90 minutes.
“We need to evolve with times and nothing should signify this better than giving a product to the fans that they can relate to. So, here we are after months of planning to finally unveil to the world our dream.”
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.
