The ICC to televise ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier matches for the first time ever

• This will be complemented by six minutes per hour of near live match content through digital clip partners across 180 countries and more content than ever before across ICC digital platforms
• Stellar seven person commentary panel including Ian Bishop, Mpumelelo Mbangwa, Lisa Sthalekar
• Match schedule infographic attached

The ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 will be televised to fans for the first time ever, across five continents in 200 territories by Star Sports, ICC’s global media rights partner, and other official broadcasters, in what is another landmark in showcasing cricket to more people across the world.

Ten matches will be broadcast around the globe, significantly building on the four live-streamed match coverage previously seen at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in 2014 as the ICC continues to build its long-term partnerships with various broadcast partners to widen the reach of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier.*

Fans can also watch online or via their mobile devices with the majority of broadcast partners simulcasting live ICC event coverage. For a full list of broadcast partners and details on how to access live ICC event coverage, please see here.

Commentary of the 19 camera coverage will come from a stellar seven person commentary panel – Ian Bishop, Mpumelelo Mbangwa, Lisa Sthalekar, Deep Dasgupta, Fazeer Mohammed, Mark Butcher and Dirk Nannes.

Ian Bishop: “The phenomenal rise of Afghanistan as a cricketing stronghold in such a short time, serves as a cautionary tale to anyone who isn't aware of how fast and how skilfully the game is growing at all levels. With this in mind I am excited to be a part of the broadcast panel that will be on hand to keep you updated as to which two nations will be standing on the pedestal of success on March 25 as they tread the path to leave their mark on the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.”

Lisa Sthalekar: “The ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier is a very important tournament in the cricketing calendar as it is the last chance for teams to qualify for next year’s Cricket World Cup in England and Wales. What that means is that there will be some delightful cricket that will be played with new heroes emerging. I am eager to be part of the broadcast team and I’m looking forward to all the excitement it will bring.”

Pommie Mbangwa: “I so look forward to working on the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier. Of course being back in Zimbabwe will be enjoyable, but more entertaining will be getting to call games where so much is at stake for all the teams. It means a great deal to be at the Cricket World Cup and this is the last chance teams get to earn a place in the sport’s most coveted tournament.”

To provide more to viewers and bring them closer to the action, there will be a 15-minute pre-game build-up, which will set the scene for the match and will include the toss and the pitch report. A 10-minute post-game wrap-up will include the Player of the Match presentation and a chat with the two captains.

Digital Clips

Away from the live broadcasting, the ICC continues its commitment to improving and upgrading digital coverage of cricket to the world. For the first time ever in an ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, ICC will make available on-demand clips of match action, highlights and event content available to global fans via a portfolio of global clip rights licensees.

A total of 10 digital clip partners covering over 110 countries will provide up to six minutes per hour of near-live match content – as well as match previews, media conferences, match highlights and event features – available to watch on designated licensee websites, smartphone apps and other digital properties with a focus on mobile. **

ICC digital platforms

Fans will also be able to keep up with the action via the ICC website icc-cricket.com, social media platforms and app – all of which will contain the latest news, scores, blog and short form video highlights from every single game of the tournament, marking the most comprehensively covered Cricket World Cup Qualifier to date.

The official ICC mobile application has undergone a number of updates to support the event including a dedicated CWCQ section, tournament video carousel, enhanced live blog with in-match clips, team pages for all 10 competing nations and the ability to ‘follow’ and receive push notifications for favourite teams (Android only).

The website also undergone some changes which includes enhanced modules for fans to follow the event, squad pages, official clip licensees added, various sponsor activations and a home page takeover. This will add life and colour to the hero moments of what promises to be a thrilling event on the Road to Cricket World Cup 2019.

ICC will continue its partnership with Perform Media Channels brand Opta as ICC’s Official Data Provider. Opta will provide live scoring services from the match venues for ICC digital media channels as well as providing a daily stats pack and net run-rate calculator for teams, umpires and match referees, ICC staff and members of the media.

Speaking on the broadcast reach and coverage of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifer, Aarti Dabas, Head of Media Rights, Broadcast and Digital, said: “For the first time ever we are broadcasting 10 matches of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, this a huge step forward in our ambition to getting cricket to more fans across the world.

“With two places in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 at stake, the ICC in partnership with its official broadcast and digital partners and on its own digital platforms are providing significant coverage of the event in Zimbabwe. In a number of firsts for coverage across the tournament, the ICC will provide on-demand clips and fans will have access to follow the event on any platform on broadcast and digital.’

The ten matches to be broadcasted at Harare Sports Club are as follows:

Saturday, 10 March – Windies v Ireland
Monday, 12 March – Windies v Netherlands
Thursday, 15 March – A1 v B1
Friday, 16 March – A2 v B2
Sunday, 18 March – A2 v B3
Monday, 19 March – A1 v B2
Tuesday, 20 March – A3 v B1
Thursday, 22 March – A1 v B3
Friday, 23 March – A2 v B1
Sunday, 25 March – FINAL

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5 February – Media accreditation process opens for ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier
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7 February – Hong Kong hoping to secure dream ICC Cricket World Cup qualification spot
11 February – The Netherlands ready to shine on the big stage
12 February - PNG preparations geared towards ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier Glory
13 February – ICC confirm match officials and squads for ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier
14 February – Afghanistan committed to achieving ICC Cricket World Cup Qualification
15 February- Zimbabwe looking to home support at ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier
18 February - Nepal to rely on raw talent, UAE’s first target is Super Six
19 February – Hong Kong, PNG have the confidence of individual performances
20 February – Netherlands and Scotland aim high in World Cup qualifier
20 February - Reminder: Media accreditation process for ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 closes today
21 February – Afghanistan bank on spin, Zimbabwe look to home advantage
22 February - Ireland confident of team balance, Windies not taking anything for granted
23 February - Schedule of captains’ pressers, teams’ practice and warm-up matches in Bulawayo, Harare and Kwekwe

Further details on Broadcast

* The broadcast partners covering the games includes Star Sports (India and the Indian Sub-continent, including Nepal), local broadcaster SuperSport (South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa), Sky Sports (United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland), OSN (Middle East & North Africa). Fox Sports (Australia), Willow TV (USA), Sky TV (New Zealand), Ten Sports (Pakistan), ESPN (Caribbean), Gazi TV (Bangladesh), SLRC (Sri Lanka) and Star Cricket (Hong Kong). Digicel will broadcast to fans in Papua New Guinea and Oceania, confirming a partnership that will run until the end of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. It is likely that more broadcasters will be added to this list in due course.

** Digital clips partners include: BBC (UK & Republic of Ireland), ESPNcricinfo (UK, Republic of Ireland and Australia), Hotstar (India), Cricbuzz (US & Canada), Cricingif (Pakistan), ThePapare.com powered by Dialog (Sri Lanka), Cricket Gateway (SE Asia & Australia),, OSN (Middle East & North Africa) and Channel 2 Group (Sub-Saharan Africa).

For a full list of official digital clip licensees, please click here.

ICC TV, aided by its production partners Sunset+Vine and OB equipment partners NEP Broadcast Solutions, will be producing all coverage from the Harare Sports Club and will employ a 19-camera coverage for all games to provide a world-class broadcast.

Through Aframe, ICC’s Content Distribution System server, ICC TV will continue to distribute features and preview pieces around the various teams and match-ups.

The ICC will be supported by corporate style-inspired graphics package designed by creative agency DixonBaxi and on air by Alston Elliot, who will also provide live real-time scoring graphics for the event broadcast. Tracking company FlightScope will be providing live ball speed data for this event.