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Sri Lanka offers to host IPL, BCCI says no
MUMBAI: The Sri Lanka Cricket Board has offered to host the thirteenth edition of Indian Premier League considering the uncertainty revolving around organising the cash-rich tournament amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the BCCI is not keen about it. It is of the opinion that there is no point in talking about such a proposal at this moment in a "closed world" fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Sri Lanka cricket board, through a letter, had offered BCCI to host this year’s IPL tournament. “Apparently it will cost the BCCI and its stakeholders more than $500 million to cancel the IPL," Shammi Silva, SLC president, told Sinhala daily Lankadeepa, reports ESPNcricinfo. "So perhaps, they can minimise those losses by hosting the tournament in another country.”
The BCCI has extended the suspension of the domestic league until further notice amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sri Lanka has also been under stringent lockdown for the last four weeks, and the virus has not impacted the island country as much as it had in the western countries. There have been a total of 238 confirmed cases registered with only seven deaths due to the virus.
The tournament was supposed to begin from 29 March to 24 April; however, the BCCI on 13 March postponed the tournament till 15 April amid the virus outbreak.
SLC president says: “If they play it in Sri Lanka, it's easy for Indian audiences to watch the games on TV. There's precedent for this because they've played the IPL in South Africa before. We're waiting for the Indian board to respond to our proposal.”
In the past, the tournaments have been played in foreign countries twice during general elections in India, once in 2009 in South Africa and the other in 2014 in the UAE. The organisers shifted the venue to foreign soil because the tournament is one of the most premium and expensive events in the country.
"If the Indian board does agree to play the tournament here, we're ready to provide facilities in line with the requirements and recommendations of medical professionals. It would be a substantial source of income for Sri Lankan cricket as well," adds Silva.
Estimates are that close to $1.5 billion is riding behind the IPL in terms of advertising, sponsorships and ticket sales. Global advisor Duff & Phelps, in March, estimated that the IPL ecosystem value will reduce by $700 to $1,000 million range (around 10-15 per cent) if IPL is cancelled.
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.
