The glittering ICC World Cup trophy was unveiled by BCCI treasurer M P Pandove at a ceremony at PCA cricket stadium on Wednesday.
Unveiling the prestigious trophy, Pandove stated that PCA will host three World Cup matches including a semifinal.
A large number of people thronged the stadium to have a close glimpse of the trophy.
Cricket lovers can be a part of the World Cup celebrations on Yahoo! through live match updates, detailed match analysis, exclusive video content, engaging games and rewarding contests.
Yahoo! India and the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the launch of the official ICC World Cup 2011 website - iccevents.yahoo.com today. This website will be the official ICC World Cup online destination for cricket enthusiasts from around the world who are following the ICC Cricket World Cup frenzy.
Cricket lovers can be a part of the World Cup celebrations on Yahoo! through live match updates, detailed match analysis, exclusive video content, engaging games and rewarding contests. The experience will feature more interactivity by choosing from a variety of cool world cup themed avatars, the ability to buy game tickets and other ICC merchandise through the website.
Prem Panicker, Managing Editor, Yahoo! India said, “Cricket is the most passionately followed game in India and many countries around the world. Cricket fans can now catch all the excitement of the game on the ICC World Cup 2011 official website. Yahoo! Cricket will deliver compelling and unique content alongside interactive contests to build on the euphoria for the game. Enthusiasts can share their thoughts, play games, create personalized profiles and track matches through interactive schedulers. Cricket fanatics can also watch and share exclusive video content and photographs on the site. We have ensured that Yahoo! Cricket provides a platform for millions of supporters to come as close to living, feeling and breathing the action unravel in the forthcoming 2011 World Cup. ”
According to Campbell Jamieson, ICC General Manager, Commercial, “As the countdown continues to the Cup that Counts, we are thrilled to be working with Yahoo! to launch an online destination that offers the exclusive ICC Cricket World Cup content in an innovative and engaging way. We are also grateful to our partners who have helped make the ICC’s flagship event such a great success.”
The ICC World Cup website on Yahoo! offers a range of unique highlights including:
Live scorecard interaction: Enjoy a more visual and captivating experience when following the World Cup online with the help of filter commentary options to check out what you want (e.g. 4’s / 6’s / wickets filters). You can also interact with other fans and Yahoo! Cricket experts through the Live Cricket Chat widget.
Commentweeter: Get a consolidated view of Twitter updates directly from cricket fans and the top cricketers of the world in one single view. Yahoo! Face in the crowd –Yahoo! photographers will be doing rounds clicking pictures of fans in the stadiums during the World Cup matches. Unique and cool fan photographs will be selected for display on the stadium’s big screen. Fans featured in the best photographs win cool Yahoo! goodie bags. You can also take your own ‘Face in the crowd’ pictures and upload them on Flickr.
Yahoo! Cricket keeps fans up to date with all the cricketing action around the world. From the latest cricket news, live ball by ball updates, match schedules, team & player profiles, cricket photos & videos, cricket interviews to columns – Yahoo! Cricket offers cricket fans with an enthralling and exciting experience that keeps cricket buffs as close to the 22 yards as possible.
Dhaka, Bangladesh (CNN) -- Hundreds of hawkers and beggars, quite often seen on Dhaka's major roads and at traffic stops, will be driven out next month ahead of the Cricket World Cup scheduled to begin in mid February, officials said Wednesday. Three South Asian nations -- Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka -- are jointly hosting the grand gala ICC World Cup 2011 and the opening ceremony is scheduled to be held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka on February 17.
"No hawkers will be allowed in the streets and beggars will be evicted temporarily from many parts of the city," said Bangladesh Home Minister Shara Khatun. In Bangladesh, matches will be played in the capital of Dhaka and the southeast port city of Chittagong. Apart from six group matches, two quarterfinals will take place in Bangladesh, officials said. Sahara Khatun, junior minister for home affairs, and other top government officials Tuesday had a meeting to ensure fail safe security for the more than a month-long cricket event.
The government is also working to give Dhaka a facelift ahead of the tournament, which will be played by 14 countries in two groups. The countries are Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, England, India, Ireland, Kenya, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe. Officials said the beggars would be taken to government asylums for the time being from the first week of February.
"I'm really upset. I don't know what I'll do for the living of my family in February and March," Mohammad Suman, who sells pirated copies of foreign books at one of the busiest traffic signals near the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka's Karwan Bazar, told CNN on Wednesday. The minister said that they would also recommend making February 17 a public holiday in Dhaka. As a part of heightening security, the army would be deployed in many places, besides police and elite forces of the Rapid Action Battalion, officials said.
The Bangladesh government imposed a ban on begging amid criticism two years ago, saying they would stop the practice within five years. According to the law, anyone caught begging in public places faces a maximum three months in jail. But begging is still seen in almost everywhere in Dhaka -- a city of ten million people, one third of whom are extremely poor and live in shanties. According to the World Bank and the United Nations, 40 percent of Bangladesh's 140 million people live below the poverty level.
Web portal Yahoo! India and the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday launched the official website for the 2011 Cricket World Cup.
The official website for the ICC World Cup 2011, iccevents.yahoo.com, will offer live match updates and analysis and users can also buy match tickets and other ICC merchandise through the site.
Moreover, users can also get a consolidated view of Twitter updates directly from cricket fans and top cricketers in one single view, according to a statement.
“Enthusiasts can share their thoughts, play games, create personalised profiles and track matches through interactive schedulers,” Yahoo! India Managing Editor Prem Panicker said. Users will also be to watch and share exclusive video content and photographs on the site.
As the final countdown begins for the much-awaited ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Hero Honda Motors Ltd. – the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer and a Global Partner (GP) of the ICC - has unleashed a slew of activities, offering exciting opportunities for fans to realise their cricketing dreams and get closer to their cricketing icons.
With the cricket fever catching on, Hero Honda announced the “KARIZMA ZMR Cricket Championship” to be hosted in Colombo, Dhaka and 75 cities spread across the country prior to the World Cup.
Spanning over two weeks, the KARIZMA ZMR Cricket Championship will feature cricket teams from several city colleges, who will compete to be the best in their respective cities. Twenty-eight city teams will be finally chosen for the dream-come-true opportunity to take a ‘Victory Lap’ each during a World Cup match, hosted in their city or region. In addition, many winners will also get another opportunity – this time to pose with the World Cup trophy, during the trophy tour being organised on the sidelines of the championship.
Moreover one additional team will be chosen nationally through an online contest. This team will be chosen basis their performance in a cricket-based video game which can be played on mobile phones and computers. And this team gets the Biggest Prize of all – they will get to take their Victory Lap in the final match of the ICC Cricket World Cup in Mumbai!
Hero Honda – one of the largest corporate promoters of sports in the country – is also organising a tour of the ICC Cricket World Cup trophy. The trophy has already been taken to Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore, and Colombo in Sri Lanka. It will now be taken to Delhi, Chandigarh and Dhaka (Bangladesh) so that fans can actually get to see the all-important trophy for themselves. Speaking on the occasion, Anil Dua, Sr. VP (Marketing & Sales), Hero Honda Motors Ltd. said “If big time cricket is here, you can trust Hero Honda to bring in exciting innovative concepts for cricket fans and enthusiasts. Taking a Victory Lap at an international cricket match – that too at an ICC Cricket World Cup match – is any cricketer’s dream.
And Hero Honda is playing the catalyst in helping young, budding college cricketers realise that dream. Does it get bigger than this! It’s our own unique way of not just raising a cheer for the game of cricket but also for the FANS – who have made cricket a religion in this part of the world.” The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 – to be played in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka - begins on February 19th and will continue till April 2nd 2011. Hero Honda has been actively promoting various disciplines of sports, including cricket, golf, tennis, football, shooting and hockey. Besides promoting sports and sportspersons at the highest level, the company has also been committed to the promotion of various sports at the grass root level.
Pepsi has taken their ICC Cricket World Cup campaign ‘Change The Game’ forward and launched a unique platform ‘Pepsi Change The Game 11’, powered by MTV. Pepsi is giving Youngistaan an opportunity to Change the Game in true Pepsi style where Youngistaanis need to demonstrate unconventional techniques of batting, bowling and fielding; unique skills in cheering and commentary.
11 Youngistaanis from across the country through on ground & digital activation will be shortlisted and win a once in a lifetime opportunity to watch all the India matches LIVE at the stadium, this World Cup. 1 quarter final, 1 semi final and the FINALS LIVE at the STADIUM! That’s not all, the winners get to be stars on MTV and chill with the VJs. These Youngistaanis will also have their views followed by other fans on Facebook, Twitter and on the Pepsi – Change the Game website.
The event in Delhi saw high energy level participation from Youngistaanis who were eager to impress Robin Uthappa with their way of changing the game. Innovative ways of bowling, batting and fielding were displayed by the enthusiastic cricket fanatics present. The crowd applauded participants who performed out of the box skills in cheering and commentary. The 24 finalists who will compete for the final Pepsi Change The Game 11 team will be announced in the first week of February 2011.
‘Pepsi Change The Game 11’ is a life time opportunity for 11 talented Youngistaanis to live, breathe and experience cricket like never before! The chosen ones will get to attend all India matches during the Cricket World Cup 2011 and voice their opinions and observations onto the social networking sites and Pepsi’s website through cool mobile phones provided to them. They will also get a chance to be on MTV for a special show to report their views. A chance to watch all India cricket matches live in the stadium in true Pepsi style this ICC Cricket World Cup and be the voice of Youngistaan.
One can participate under three main categories; cricket skills, commentary and cheering. But the catch here is that Pepsi and MTV are not looking for anything textbook and already existing. So if you have a new and unconventional way of batting, bowling, fielding, cheering or commentating you can be a game changer. So get ready to impress your favourite MTV VJs and cricket stars like Robin Uthappa and Manoj Tiwari to win your way and be a part of Pepsi Change the Game 11.
The Pepsi and MTV team are travelling to your Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Bangalore, Pune, Ludhiana, Ahmedabad and Kanpur to conduct on ground selections where fans can enact their change the game moves in 60 seconds in front of the camera. 24 final participants from 10 cities and 6 from digital participation will be chosen and taken to Mumbai for the grand finale on MTV.
ISLAMABAD, Jan 24 (APP): The Supreme Court on Monday suspended a notification of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and restored telecasting rights of the GEO Super over World Cricket Cup 2011, which it had obtained through Independent Music Group. A three-Judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Muhammad Sair Ali and Justice Khalil ur Rehman Ramday hearing a plea by the petitioner against PEMRA said in its order that PEMRA letter issued on December 22, 2010. allowing cables Tv rights to Birds private limited company/GEO Super through Independent Music Group and terrestrial rights to PTV and which was subsequently withdrawn on January 10, 2011 by citing the reason about group as non-holder of PEMRA license, stood restored.
The bench directed PEMRA to implement the letter in letter and spirit. The bench noted that the December 22 letter was withdrawn unlawfully and without jurisdiction.The petitioner had made arrangements on the basis of such approval and entered into agreement with ESPN, the bench added. At the outset of proceedings, Muhammad Akram Sheikh, counsel for petitioner, said that his client had copyrights under Section 62 of the Copy Rights Act 1962 and had applied for license but the Pemra sent their matter to Ministry of Interior for security clearance which was denied on June 2009.
He said that they had approached the Sindh High Court and the case was pending there. Salman Akram Raja, counsel for PEMRA, said that IGS’ contractual links were not completed. He said 60 to 70 per cent rural area population had no access to cable channels. To a bench’s query he replied that Birds company had the landing rights through downlinking Geo Super of the Independent Music Group, Dubai.
He said according to PEMRA’s laws, the cable operators have to carry contents of PTV.
He said Ahmed Ishfaque Jamani, a regional officer of PEMRA in Sindh issued the December letter without lawful authority and an inquiry was being conducted against him. The bench told him that PEMRA was not a party to the case and it must function as an independent body. Raza Kazim, counsel for PTV, appeared and said that the Group had telecasting rights and they recognized it.
He said under terrestrial rights, PTV transmit its beams across the country but it had no control over 7,000 cable operators in the country who could utilize it. He said if the petitioner was asking the PTV to stop transmitting matches, it was impossible of it and on the other hand, the PTV could not ask cable operators to stop its transmission. The bench also issued notices to petitioner and respondents on a plea of CBA PTV and adjourned hearing till date in office.
As the sportswear sector of the country is experiencing a boom, Big Bazaar, the flagship hypermarket retail chain of Future Group is foreseeing a rise of around 10 percent in the sale of its fashion apparels during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.
The hypermarket has been appointed to serve as the authorised dealer of special merchandise for the World Cup 2011, by the ICC.
It expressed its delight over getting the licence to serve as the authorised dealer of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 merchandise. It stated that, through the wide range of home, personal care and apparel merchandise they would try to cater and develop a strong relationship with their consumers and would help them to express their joy and admiration for the game of cricket.
The cricket merchandise particularly designed for men, women and children are available in the price range of Rs 199 to Rs 449. Various sports attire and accessories like active dry tees, shorts, sports tees, track pants, sweatshirt, head bands and caps are all included in the range.
Besides the usual sports range, a graphic range of merchandise bearing cricket-inspired messages and a soft toy range tagged as ‘Stumpy’, which is the official mascot of the ICC CWC 2011 is also on display at all the Big Bazaar outlets.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India
New Delhi, Jan 23 (PTI) Korean handset maker LG Mobile today said it will invest Rs 40 crore in marketing and promotional activities during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.
The company will unveil its campaign ''LG Mobile Army'', which will include both marketing and on-ground activities.
"LG has always shared the passion and joy of cricket fans and the campaign intends to build on the cricketing action. We will invest Rs 40 crore for marketing and promotional activities as part of the campaign," LG India Electronics Chief Marketing Officer Lakshmikant Gupta told PTI.
LG Mobile will conduct roadshows across 38 cities and select 2,500 people as the ''LG Mobile Army'', who will then get to see the matches, he added.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is scheduled to be held from February 19-April 2, 2011 and will be hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
"This ''Mobile Army'' will be selected through auditions in which the cricket fan has to showcase his/her love for the game through dance, slogans/chants. There is a special wild card entry for LG smartphone buyers," Gupta said.
LG Electronics has an eight-year agreement (upto 2015) with International Cricket Council (ICC) as the technology partner.
Asked if the company planned to launch new handsets during the tournament, Gupta said, "In the next two months, we will launch seven new handsets. These will be across various price points and will include 3G-enabled phones as well as smartphones." PTI SR DEB
LG Mobile today announced ‘LG Mobile Army’, its marketing campaign associated with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. Backed by an investment of US$ 9 million (40 crores), the campaign will recruit 2,500 cadets, involve 5 lakh participants, 800 man days of activation and the distribution of 15 lakh units of exclusive cricket merchandise worth US$ 14 million (64 crores), informed the company.
“The LG Mobile Army is an unprecedented initiative undertaken by the ICC and LG Electronics. The LG Mobile Army campaign intends to build on all the cricketing action and excitement during the World Cup. We are positive that this initiative will become an effective way to enter the spirit of local communities and bring alive the soul of sports,” commented Vishal Chopra, business head, mobile communications, LG India Electronics India.
The company informed that, for all the 49 matches, the mobile army squad will select 50 fans who will cheer for cricket live at the stadiums. Led by the cricketing genius Dinesh Karthik, and the brand ambassadors – Genelia D’Souza, John Abraham and Abhay Deol, this ‘mobile army’ will be selected through auditions in which the cricket fan has to showcase his/her love for the game through a ‘cricket celebration dance’, slogans/chants and for the LG Smartphone buyers there is a special wild card entry.
NEW DELHI: The upcoming cricket World Cup being organised by the ICC in the Indian subcontinent is expected to rake in over $ 1 million (over Rs 4.5 crore) from the sale of merchandise, both online and at match venues. UK's IVS Group, the International Cricket Council's (ICC) venue concessionaire and webstore licensee, is focusing on local production of merchandise like jerseys , T-shirts , caps, headgear and souvenirs.
"We anticipate sales will be in excess of $ 1 million. Our early forecast is for high sales at the event and we have ensured our product mix caters to all cricket fans, both in the subcontinent and globally," IVS Group Project Manager Matt Hassall told PTI. IVS will sell merchandise over the Internet as well as at the match venues and hotels and airports in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, he said. "By using local production for our large volume items, we have quick turnaround capacity," Hassall said, adding that the company will ensure that it has sufficient products available to cater to all tastes. He said the headwear range is already seeing brisk sales. "Both caps and sunhats are selling well online," he added. The ICC's official portal is selling apparel and caps in the range of $ 20 to $ 50 and small items such as keyrings and pins are priced at around $ 5.
IVS has also partnered with KyaZoonga, which is the official ticket partner of the ICC, to offer products to ticket buyers. "We have not even created much noise about it (the merchandise range) yet, but are already seeing people buying products along with tickets. There is a lot of demand," KyaZoonga Chairman and CEO Neetu Bhatia said. It is, however, estimated that overall revenue from official World Cup merchandise sales will be much more than $ 1 million, with India's Future Group -- another official merchandise partner -- revving up campaigns ahead of the mega cricketing event being held from February 19 to April 2.
The Kishore Biyani-promoted group will be selling a wide range of merchandise at its Central, Planet Sports and Big Bazaar outlets, aggregating to over 150 retail points. "We have launched a wide range of merchandise in the past, right from cricket to Bollywood, but expectation from the latest range is much more, as cricket is in the heart of every Indian and the tournament is happening in the Indian subcontinent," Big Bazaar Business Head (North) Vineet Jain said. He, however, did not divulge the revenue expectations from the latest offering. Big Bazaar is offering cricket merchandise such as T-shirts, track pants, shorts, sweatshirts, caps, head bands, bed and bath linen products at prices upward of Rs 199.
That's not all, the retailer has also co-created 'The Sach' brand of toothpaste and bathing bars with legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar .
