Indian company gets T20s rights
*J Holder, K Brathwaite, L Johnson, DM Bravo, M Samuels, J Blackwood, R Chase, +S Dowrich, M Cummins, A Joseph, S Gabriel. West Indies.
N Llong, R Tucker; TV – G Brathwaite. West Indies’ Alzarri Joseph bowls to India’s Ajinkya Rahane during day one of their third Test match at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Gros Islet, St Lucia, yesterday. MUMBAI, India (CMC): THE TELEVISION broadcast rights for West Indies’ two-match Twenty20 series against India in Florida at month end has been sold to Mumbaibased media company, Star India, for US$5.1 million, the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) announced Monday.
A tender was put out by the BCCI for the series and following an evaluation, BCCI president Anurag Thakur said Star India had been selected because the company would ensure “maximum exposure”.
“I am pleased to announce that Star India will be the official broadcaster,” Thakur said.
“It will ensure the BCCI is able to guarantee maximum exposure and further increase the visibility of this new initiative.”
For the first time in their history, India will play international games on United States soil when they take on reigning T20 World champions West Indies on August 27 and 28 at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
BASE PRICE
A base price of US$1.6 million had been set by the BCCI for each T20 International, which will be tacked onto the end of the ongoing four-Test series in the Caribbean.
Ajay Shirke, BCCI secretary, pointed out that the association with Star India was part of the board’s overall strategy of developing new market thrusts.
“Star India has been an excellent partner for the BCCI. They have a deep understanding of the game of cricket and what it means to the nation,” Shirke said.
“We are pleased to extend our association with them. This agreement also reflects our strategy to develop new markets and fan following.”
India join the likes of West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, who have all played T20 Internationals at the Fort Lauderdale venue.
Only last month, the Caribbean Premier League hosted six of its matches there in a historic move.