Bengaluru, September 19: In a significant development for international cricket, Tavenengwa Mukulani has been appointed as the new Vice Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The announcement was made on September 17, and Mukulani’s term will extend until November 2027, succeeding Imran Khwaja from Singapore. Mukulani, who is currently the Chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket, is the first individual from Zimbabwe to hold the position of ICC Deputy Chair. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy in India and has been involved with the cricket association since the 2000s. Mukulani is also a member of the ICC’s Finance and Commercial Affairs and Nomination Committee.
In another notable event, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) delivered two LCA Tejas FOC twin-seater trainers and HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) on September 18. The ceremony took place in Bengaluru, attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu, and Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh. The initial batch included three basic trainer aircraft, along with four Dhruv next-generation helicopters handed over to Pawan Hans. The LCA will be used for training fighter pilots, while the HTT-40 is an indigenous aircraft for basic flying training. HAL plans to deliver a total of 29 LCA MK1A aircraft to the IAF.
Additionally, the 20th Asian Games officially commenced today in Nagoya, Japan. Indian athletes Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor will carry the national flag at the opening ceremony. Bhaker is an Olympic medalist, while Toor is the reigning Asian Games champion in shot put. India is sending a contingent of 508 athletes across 35 sports, with the inclusion of the modern indoor game of Tabelball, which combines elements of football and table tennis.
In other news, former Union Minister E.M. Sudharsan Nachiappan passed away on September 17 at the age of 78. He served as a Member of Parliament from Shivaganga from 1999 to 2004 and was a Rajya Sabha MP from 2004 to 2016. Nachiappan played a significant role in parliamentary testing related to the RTI Act.
Lastly, the Marathi film ‘Gondhal’ has been selected as India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards, competing in the Best International Feature Film category. Directed by Santosh Dabhkar, the psychological thriller is based on rural Maharashtra’s folk traditions and religious rituals.
This week has been eventful, highlighting significant achievements in sports, cinema, and governance.