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Tag: International Cricket Council

  • ICC ropes in MRF Tyres as global partner in four-year deal

    ICC ropes in MRF Tyres as global partner in four-year deal

    MUMBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has roped in MRF Tyres as a global partner for ICC events for a period of four years from 2016 to 2020.

     

    Over the next four years, the ICC events include eight tournaments, including the ICC World Twenty20 in 2016, an ICC Champions Trophy in 2017 and an ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019.

     

    The ICC and MRF Tyres recently completed a partnership at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. 

     

    ICC CEO David Richardson said, “I am delighted that MRF Tyres has decided to continue its support of cricket by extending its partnership with the ICC for a further four years. Our aim at ICC events is to create an exceptional experience for all involved and I am confident that not only will MRF help us enhance that aim but that the forthcoming ICC events will help MRF promote its brand and expand its reach to other parts of the globe.”

     

    “MRF is already an active promotor and supporter of cricket with a number of domestic and international fast bowlers benefitting from its MRF Pace Foundation. I am excited that MRF has elected to be cricket’s global partner and I am confident that this will be the start of a long relationship,” he added.

     

    MRF Tyres chairman and managing director K M Mammen said, “This is a proud moment for MRF and this association is a testimony to our commitment to cricket. Twenty20 is the most popular form of the game today and it is a matter of great pride to be associated with the ICC World Twenty20 2016. Association with the ICC and the game of cricket presents a great opportunity for brand MRF to reach markets across the world. We are indeed proud to bring this thrill-a minute tournament to the millions of fans in India and all over the world.”

     

    Also present at the announcement event at MRF Tyres headquarters in Chennai was former India captain and MRF brand ambassador Sachin Tendulkar.

  • Oppo ropes in Hrithik & Sonam as brand ambassadors for South Asia

    Oppo ropes in Hrithik & Sonam as brand ambassadors for South Asia

    MUMBAI: Smartphone brand Oppo has rung in the year 2016 by roping in Hrithik Roshan and Sonam Kapoor as its South Asia region brand ambassadors.

     

    The actors have been a part of the brand’s India journey since 2014.

     

    Oppo vice president and international mobile business managing director Sky Li said, “As Oppo celebrates its second year anniversary in India, it gives me immense pleasure to announce Hrithik and Sonam as Oppo brand ambassadors. Both Hrithik and Sonam are youth icons and are looked up to for their style and attitude, which is completely in tune with our brand philosophy, which is about young at heart and pursuing for perfection, and always be a trendsetter. We encourage consumers to be experts in photography and be trend setters like our brand ambassadors who have influenced us with their astounding pictures.”

     

    Roshan said, “I have always loved the stylish and technologically superior Oppo phones and have many cherished memories clicked with my first Oppo N1 smartphone with rotating camera. I am proud of the brand’s growth in India and am very excited to be a part of yet another successful innings of the brand in India in 2016.”

     

    Kapoor added, “My association with Oppo echoes my belief in the brand’s philosophy of marrying technology with style and elegance as a phone is increasingly becoming a lifestyle statement especially amongst the youth. I am pleased to be associated with Oppo, which caters to the consumers with exceptional products.”

     

    It may be recalled that Oppo is the Official Global Partner worldwide for the mobile phone category with International Cricket Council (ICC) for four years from 2016 – 2019. Apart from this, the brand has also inked a three-year partnership with FC Barcelona as global partner as well as with America’s Next Top Model (ANTM) Cycle 22 in 2015, to bring a range of stylish devices to the popular reality TV show.

  • ICC partners Hotstar for exclusive digital clips in India till 2019

    ICC partners Hotstar for exclusive digital clips in India till 2019

    MUMBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed Star India’s Novi Digital Entertainment as the exclusive digital clips licensee in India for all ICC events from 2016-2019.

     

    Novi owns the online video streaming platforms Hotstar and Starsports.com, which in addition to exclusively live streaming ICC events, will also exploit the digital clips as a result of this arrangement.

     

    The four-year deal includes eight ICC Events namely the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2016, ICC World Twenty20 India 2016, ICC Champions Trophy 2017, ICC Women’s World Cup England 2017, ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier Bangladesh 2018, ICC U19 Cricket World Cup New Zealand 2018, ICC Women’s World Twenty20 West Indies 2018 and ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

     

    ICC general manager – commercial Campbell Jamieson said, “The ICC is delighted to be entering into a four-year relationship with Novi, whose online video streaming platform, Hotstar, is extremely popular and has a proven record in entertainment and sports coverage in India.”

     

    Novi is also the current media rights holder for ICC events from 2016 to 2023.

  • Zaheer Abbas becomes new ICC president

    Zaheer Abbas becomes new ICC president

    MUMBAI: International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas as the new ICC president. The announcement was made during the ongoing ICC Annual Conference week in Barbados.

     

    Abbas who has already begun his one-year term, thanked the ICC board and the full council for confirming his nomination. He said, “I feel truly honored and humbled to be appointed as the president of the governing body of our great game. This is the sport which has given us friendship, respect, recognition and an opportunity to serve our countries in different capacities. Personally speaking, it has given me more than I can ever possibly repay.”

     

    He further added, “I am thankful to all of you for the support and confidence placed in me by confirming my nomination. I am also grateful to the PCB for proposing my candidacy as the ICC president. I assure you all that I will stand shoulder to shoulder with all the ICC members as we continue to strive to inspire more and more people to fall in love with the game we cherish.”

     

    ICC chairman N.Srinivasan said, “Zaheer’s outstanding career as a stylish right-handed batsman is reflected in his remarkable record with 108 first-class hundreds and more than 7,500 international runs. Zaheer is clearly an iconic cricketer who always played the game with skill, flair and in the true spirit. He is a worthy ambassador of our great game.”

     

    Abbas, 67, played 78 Tests and 62 ODIs from 1969 to 1985 in which he scored 5,062 and 2,572 runs, respectively. He also played in the 1975, 1979 and 1983 ICC Cricket World Cups and captained Pakistan in 14 Tests and 13 ODIs. With 108 centuries, Abbas is the only Asian batsman to score a century of first-class centuries as he finished his 22-year career with 34,843 runs.

     

    He was also an ICC match referee in the 1993 series between Sri Lanka and the West Indies in Sri Lanka.

  • ICC announces MRF Tyres as global partner

    ICC announces MRF Tyres as global partner

    MUMBAI:  As fans are gearing up for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, slated to begin in February, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a new partnership with MRF Tyres of India. The announcement comes a day after the tyre and rubber manufacturing company completed 25 years of its association with the gentlemen’s game.

     

    Commenting on the new partnership, ICC chairman Narayanaswami Srinivasan said, “MRF is an active promoter of sport and by deciding to be associated with the ICC in challenging economic times, it has shown its faith and support in the ICC as well as its flagship event.”

     

    In September, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) signed a five year agreement with the MRF Pace Foundation to train an elite group of 20 bowlers in three camps overseen by cricketer Glenn McGrath each year. “Through its foundation, which has seen it work alongside some of the fastest bowlers in world cricket, MRF also shares the ICC’s commitment to continuous quality improvement,” added Srinivasan.

     

    Speaking on the new development, MRF chairman and managing director K M Mammen commented, “It is a historic moment for MRF. It is a matter of pride for MRF to be associated with the ICC World Cup Cricket 2015, which is considered by many to be the pinnacle of one-day cricket.”

     

    Adding to this MRF executive vice president Koshy K Varghese said, “We intend leveraging this partnership to bring further awareness of MRF as a global brand.”

     

    As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of tyres and allied rubber products, MRF has a long-standing association with the game. It’s Pace foundation has earned itself the reputation of being a leading institution for developing fast bowling skills across test playing countries.

     

  • Bombay HC dismissed conflict of interest petition against N Srinivasan

    Bombay HC dismissed conflict of interest petition against N Srinivasan

    MUMBAI: Narayanaswami Srinivasan can breathe for a while now. The Bombay High Court has dismissed a public international litigation (PIL) that had challenged the current International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman’s conflict of interest while running the affairs of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

    In September, the Cricket Association of Bihar, which had filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court, seeked the appointment of an independent Governance Review Committee that would review the rules and regulations of the cricket body in India.

    The PIL allegedly stated that the BCCI was being used as a platform to serve the personal interests of few people including that of Srinivasan, who has been stood down from his position till the Supreme Court adjudicated on the ongoing hearing on corruption in the Indian Premier League.

    The PIL has been filed by Cricket Association of Bihar secretary Aditya Verma, who has stated that the rules and regulations of the BCCI have also been allegedly tampered with in such a way that the people could use for their own purposes and points out towards   the spot-fixing scandal in the IPL.  Meanwhile, on 10 November the Supreme Court of India raised a question if Srinivasan could be allowed to head the BCCI in case his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was found to be involved in IPL-6 betting and spot-fixing scandal.

     

  • N Srinivasan confirmed as ICC chairman

    N Srinivasan confirmed as ICC chairman

    MUMBAI: Narayanaswami Srinivasan has been confirmed as the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman after the 52-member full council approved amendments to the ICC’s Memorandum and Articles of Association at the annual conference in Melbourne.

    Srinivasan was nominated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the top position and will assume charge following the conclusion of the ICC annual conference week.

    The approval of the constitutional changes, which flowed from an ICC Board resolution taken in Singapore on 8 February and finalised on 10 April, also means that a new executive committee was formed, which will report to the ICC Board.

    The initial chair of the executive committee will be Cricket Australia’s chairman, Wally Edwards, while the chair of the ICC’s finance and commercial affairs committee (F&CA) will continue to be England and Wales Cricket Board’s chairman, Giles Clarke.

    Srinivasan said it was an honour to become ICC chairman and promised that the ICC will continue to play a leading role in the promotion and development of the global game.

    “It is an honour to be confirmed as the chairman of the International Cricket Council,” said Srinivasan, adding: “I will leave no stone unturned in trying to strengthen the pillars and foundations of our sport, both on and off the field. I want to ensure that cricket retains and grows its popularity, and that the ICC plays a leading role in this global growth.”

    “I want to see more strong teams in international cricket. For this to be achieved, we all need to work hard to develop local talent in our countries. Naturally, there will be more support to those who first show they can help themselves. The ICC is a members’ organisation and the pathway is now there for any member to play test cricket or in the major ICC events if it performs well enough over a sustained period of time.”

    Srinivasan congratulated outgoing ICC president Alan Isaac for his contribution.” Isaac has been an inspirational president of the ICC. He provided guidance to everyone during his two-year term and all three international formats remain incredibly popular. The game is unquestionably stronger than it was at the start of his term,” he said.

    The annual conference also saw Mustafa Kamal become the eleventh president of the ICC.

    Kamal said: “This is a memorable and historic day for Bangladesh cricket. On this day 14 years ago, Bangladesh became the tenth test playing country. Today, a Bangladeshi becomes the eleventh president of the International Cricket Council. Thank you for bestowing this honour on Bangladesh and me.”

  • Dav Whatmore to help Afghanistan, Ireland, Scotland and UAE for ICC WC 2015

    Dav Whatmore to help Afghanistan, Ireland, Scotland and UAE for ICC WC 2015

    MUMBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has today announced that Dav Whatmore will help Afghanistan, Ireland, Scotland and UAE prepare for the 50 over ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 (CWC) as part of the ICC High Performance Programme (HPP).

    Whatmore will begin his new role during the ICC HPP Support Staff Forum, which opens on 14 May in Scotland, where he will meet each of the teams’ coaches and start to provide tailored assistance.

     

     “I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to work with the leading Associate and Affiliate teams during such a memorable period in world cricket.  We have seen some amazing performances recently from these teams, and, over the next 10 months, I look forward to being able to assist in honing their performances even further,” said Whatmore.

    Whatmore who in the past has coached full member teams like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, will now work closely with the ICC High Performance Manager and each of the four teams in an advisory and support role as they prepare for the ICC CWC 2015. The mega sporting event will commence on 14 February 2015 in Australia and New Zealand. Whatmore is considered to have first-hand knowledge of the preparations needed to succeed on the global stage. He is best known to have coached Sri Lanka to ICC CWC glory in 1996.  

    “The ICC Cricket World Cup is the world’s biggest stage for any cricketer.  It takes hard work, dedication and motivation to succeed at such a huge global event, as well as unflinching confidence.  I hope to be able to assist on all of these fronts to ensure that Afghanistan, Ireland, Scotland and the UAE fire on all cylinders from the moment they arrive in Australia and New Zealand next year,” he added.

    ICC chief executive David Richardson said, “We welcome Dav Whatmore to this important advisory role.  Dav’s extensive coaching experience, including leading Sri Lanka to its unforgettable ICC Cricket World Cup victory in 1996, will provide excellent support and expertise to the four qualifying teams as they put the finishing touches on their preparations for cricket’s premier one-day tournament.”

    Ireland coach and former West Indies Test player Phil Simmons, who led Ireland to a unique treble in 2013 when it became the first team to win three ICC events across three formats in one season, welcomed the appointment, saying, “Ireland is focused on making a big impact in Australia and New Zealand in 10 months’ time, and we have detailed plans in place to make sure we do just that. With Dav’s knowledge and experience, we will gain an extra edge in our preparations.”

       

    Afghanistan coach and former Pakistan bowler Kabir Khan, whose side claimed the second qualification spot at the ICC CWC 2015 after finishing behind Ireland in the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Championship, said: “Afghanistan has a rigorous schedule of training and fixtures in the lead-up to its maiden appearance at the ICC Cricket World Cup.  This will be the biggest ever participated in, and the extra support from Dav Whatmore will be an excellent addition to our preparations.”  

    Aqib Javed, a member of the Pakistan side that won the ICC Cricket World Cup 1992 and also played in the 1996 tournament, and who coached the UAE to the final qualification spot with a second-place finish at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier New Zealand 2014, said, “We are very focused on our one-day preparations over the next 10 months, and the opportunity to work alongside Dav Whatmore as we fine-tune our programmes and training is very exciting for us.”

     

    Craig Wright, who coached Scotland to victory at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier New Zealand 2014 to seal the third qualification spot at the ICC CWC 2015, and has also captained Scotland in the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2007 said, “Scotland performed strongly under pressure to win the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier earlier this year, and with insight from someone as experienced as Dav, we have the opportunity over the coming months to not just keep up that momentum, but boost it even further.”
     

  • ESPN Star wins ICC global telecast rights

    ESPN Star wins ICC global telecast rights

    MUMBAI: In what was virtually a come-from-behind victory, ESPN Star Sports has walked away with the audio-visual rights for International Cricket Council (ICC) conducted events for the next eight years from late 2007 to 2015.

    A statement issued by the ICC announcing the winner said, “The decision was a unanimous one, taken by the ICC Board in Dubai on Saturday, and the ICC will now seek to reach final agreement with ESPN STAR Sports.”

    The ICC statement was silent on what the “final figure on the agreement” was, other than to say that it was “significantly in excess of the ICC’s previous commercial deal The previous agreement with the Global Cricket Corporation (GCC), included sponsorship rights as well as the audio-visual component and was worth $550 million for the years 2000 to 2007.

    ESS, which had only made a territory bid covering the Indian Subcontinent and the Middle East in the first round, upped the ante in the second and final round of tenders on Thursday, putting in a global bid and beating out Harish Thawani’s Nimbus, as well as separate tenders made by Zee and its recent acquisition Ten Sports. Ten Sports’ bid was made in partnership with sports marketing agency Infront.

    As far as how the bids stacked up in the end, ESS’ winning punt was $ 1.1 billion, well ahead of Nimbus bid of $ 900 million, sources in Dubai close to the developments have told Indiantelevision.com. As for Zee and Ten Sports, their bids were in the region of $ 850 million and $ 825 million respectively.

    A point of note is that other than Nimbus, all the bidders had upped their tender values in the second round. ESS, as already mentioned, hadn’t even put in a global bid in the earlier round. Zee’s earlier bid was reportedly $ 620 million, while in the case of Ten Sports-Infront, it was said to be $ 750 million.

    Included in the eight-year period of the ICC rights ESS has acquired are 18 ICC tournaments with two World Cups, in Asia (2011) and Australasia (2015), and a minimum of three Champions Trophy tournaments.

    Also included are the first two Twenty20 World Championships, in South Africa (2007) and England (2009), the latter taking place in the ICC’s centenary year.

    Then there are Cricket World Cup qualifiers, four ICC U/19 Cricket World Cups, and, for the first time, the Women’s Cricket World Cup, with two tournaments scheduled for 2009 (Australia) and 2013 (India) in the eight-year timeframe.

    ESS managing director Jamie Davis said,“This acquisition affirms our commitment to the Indian subcontinent and the world and we are absolutely delighted to bring the exciting lineup of ICC Events to millions of cricket fans globally.”

    IS Bindra, the former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president and India’s representative at the meeting, said: “This deal is good for the game and it shows cricket is growing.”
    One aspect that comes out of all this is that Sony Entertainment Television India, the incumbent ICC rights holder for the Indian subcontinent, has closed the chapter on its sports telecast ambitions, at least for the foreseeable future.

    As for ESPN Star, it has now reasserted its dominance of the sports broadcast arena, particularly in India in what has become a three sports network market – ESS, Zee Sports-Ten Sports and Nimbus’ Neo Sports.

  • indya.com sets ‘web traffic record’ for Champions Trophy

    indya.com sets ‘web traffic record’ for Champions Trophy

    MUMBAI: Star India’s internet portal indya.com has registered over 1.1 billion hits and 234 million page views on its iccchampionstrophy.indya.com site since its 8 October 2006 launch.

    As the official internet partner of the International Cricket Council, indya.com was designated by the ICC to develop, host and market the official global web destination for the Champions Trophy, asserts an official release.

    The site attracted over three million unique users from around the world – the most from India itself, followed by users from the US, UK, Pakistan and Australia. The ICC Champions Trophy was held from 7 October to 5 November in four cities across India: Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mohali and Mumbai.

    “Cricket lovers throughout the world have counted upon indya.com to deliver the best online cricket experience available, and I believe that the results speak for themselves,” said Star India Entertainment CEO Sameer Nair.

    “The success we achieved makes icchampionstrophy.indya.com, Star India’s most successful web property to date and as the ICC Champions Trophy serves as a precursor to the 2007 Cricket World Cup, we anticipate an even larger response in the future,” he added.

    The website hosted country specific packages which were available at different price points, allowing internet subscribers to buy into a ‘match pack’ – a gateway to live clips, highlight packages, and expert comments of every match in the tournament. The site served over one million video and live-streaming requests.

    iccchampionstrophy.indya.com also offered a feature rich application called Matchcast that allowed users to access live scores, ball-by-ball updates of on-going matches, player and team backgrounds and a host of other information cricket enthusiasts would bowl their arm out for, adds the release.

    Sponsors on the site throughout the month long tournament included Lufthansa Airlines and Monster.com.