ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 commercial rights protection programme to safeguard the investment made by cricket's global partners

The ICC Cricket World Cup has engaged Copyright Integrity International (CII) to work closely with its existing in-house legal team on the management of a comprehensive rights protection programme for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, which gets underway on 19th February.

CII will provide the ICC with a suite of commercial rights-protection and anti-piracy services and solutions such as online content and broadcast protection, comprehensive trademark and brand protection and media terms enforcement, in a programme designed to protect the ICC's intellectual property rights from the threats of piracy, ambush marketing and unlicensed use. Copyright Integrity International advised ICC Cricket World Cup, with a team led by in-house Counsel Dr. Clinton Free.

Speaking to Bar & Bench, CII Counsel Dr. Clinton Free said, “It's a privilege to be engaged by a client such as the ICC to manage the commercial rights-protection programme for such a globally significant event as the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. Our extensive services and experienced team will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the event is an unqualified success. Our role will include not only the monitoring and enforcement of infringements, but also an education programme for the public that will ensure wholesome enjoyment of the event with due respect to the ICC's commercial partners and sponsors”.

ICC's General Manager - Commercial, Campbell Jamieson, said, "Our commercial partners and sponsors make our events possible and generate significant funding for the global game. The aim of the ICC's commercial rights protection programme is to maintain the exclusivity of their association with our events. It is vital that those rights are protected so that our partners' investments can be channelled into the development of cricket throughout our 105 Members. We have previously worked with CII on rights protection around previous ICC events and have been very happy with its services. We are delighted to extend its mandate to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011”.

The Law Offices of Nandan Kamath, has been retained to provide legal advisory services to the ICC in connection with the event, with a team led by Principal Nandan Kamath.

ESPN Star Sports unviels ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 plans

ESPN Star Sports on Thursday said that it will tap into avenues like 3G streaming, high-definition display besides providing extensive coverage for the upcoming ICC cricket world cup 2011.

The 2011 edition will feature live match coverage by 3G mobile streaming to offer unrestricted access on internet and mobile besides television in India, and will be produced in high-definition, the sports broadcaster said.

The decision review system (DRS) will also be introduced for the very first time for any ICC tournament.

ESPN Star said that it will cover the all the matches with 27 cameras including innovative features like movable slips cameras and new low 45-degree field cameras for extensive coverage. The production will also have a mid-wicket camera position for live running between wickets.

ESS' bouquet of networks including ESPN, Star Sports and Star Cricket will telecast all the 49 matches of the ICC World Cup 2011 starting on 19 February, 2011. In addition, 37 matches will be simultaneously telecast in Hindi on Star Sports.

The pre and post match shows will be hosted by ESPN Star Sports' panel of 30 commentators and studio experts from leading participating countries.

ICC cricket world cup 2011 tournament director, Ratnakar Shetty, said, ''It is great to have the World Cup return to the sub continent after 15 years and we would like to make it an unforgettable experience on ground and for television viewers.''

Sponsors like Sony, Pepsi, Maruti Suzuki, Ceat, Phillips, Nokia and others have already come on board and we are in discussions with many others, the company informed.
Manu Sawhney, managing director, ESPN Star Sports added that the broadcaster is working closely with ICC for the communication campaign, 'The Cup That Counts', a 360-degree campaign involving key players from the three host nations, which will break soon in the Indian media.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011: Probable semi-finalists

With the 2011 World Cup around the corner, speculation on the probable champions has started to rise. Australia has dominated the competition for a long time winning the Cup 3 consecutive times, in 1999, 2003 and 2007. This time, however, many fear that the 4-time World Cup winners will face a much stiffer challenge to reclaim the title.

An interesting fact to notice is that in all their previous three wins, Australia has faced the three Asian giants in the final. 1999 was the year when Wasim Akram’s Pakistan failed miserably after scoring just 132 runs in the final. The 2003 final saw Indian bowlers being smashed to all parts of the ground in South Africa. In 2007, Sri Lanka were hoping to replicate their 1996 World Cup win but failed.

Another stat regarding Asian teams in the tournament is that in the previous 5 ICC World Cups, there has been an Asian team in the Final. In 1992, Pakistan won their only ODI World Cup under the influential captaincy of Imran Khan. In the following 1996 competition, Sri Lanka beat Australia in the final at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Pakistan.

Considering the fact that the 2011 World Cup is being played in Asia, the three mighty Asian teams have a good chance of winning the tournament. The list of for probable semi-finalists, however, is easily topped by India.

1. India: One of the greatest batsmen of all time, Sir Viv Richards, has labelled India as the favourites for the 2011 tournament. Under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, India has developed a formidable team which will be difficult to beat on home soil. A batting line up which includes the little master Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Yousaf Pathan, Dhoni and the inform Virat Kohli, can demolish any bowling attack. Perhaps the only worry the Indian camp has is the lack of pace in their bowling attack which is held together by only Zaheer Khan.

2. Australia: Australia might not be as strong a team as they were a couple of years back, nonetheless, it is still hard to rule out a team which has made it to the final in the previous four attempts. The Kangaroos have managed to reach the final of the World Cup 6 times in the 9 tournaments held so far. As a Captain, Ricky Ponting has a remarkable 100% record in the competition. Australia have won all 22 matches played under his leadership. Their experience in the tournament is bound to come in handy even with this less high profile team.

3. Sri Lanka: This will be spin-wizard Muttiah Muralitharan’s final World Cup outing and he will surely be looking to end his illustrious ODI career on a high. On World Cup pitches, which are expected to support spin bowling, Murali’s magic can single-handedly win games for Sri Lanka. He will be supported by the Lasith Malinga in the bowling department, who will be looking to exploit batsmen with his reverse swing. The batting will be anchored by Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene and players like Tillakaratne Dilshan will look to impose themselves on the opposition.

4. Pakistan: Most people will be surprised to see this name in the list as Pakistan has failed to secure an ODI series win since 2008. However, given the fact that the World Cup will be played in conditions similar to Pakistan, this unpredictable team has the ability to cause an upset. With players like captain Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Akhtar, who can win matches single-handedly, Pakistan can go on to win their second World Cup title.

ICC Cricket World Cup recorded in TV series

The ICC Cricket World Cup (ICC CWC), the game’s flagship tournament, now has a definitive visual history thanks to a new series of 12 television programmes.

The programmes produced by ESPN STAR Sports, the ICC’s global production and broadcast partner, looks back at the event’s rich history through stories told by the players who experienced the highs and the lows. This audio-visual history beautifully captures the precious moments that will stand the test of time.

They feature extensive interviews with all seven ICC CWC-winning captains – Clive Lloyd, Kapil Dev, Allan Border, Imran Khan, Arjuna Ranatunga, Stephen Waugh and Ricky Ponting.

And they also include the views of some other pivotal figures from each tournament, including Sachin Tendulkar, Shane Warne, Ian Botham, Mike Gatting, Wasim Akram, Sanath Jayasuriya, Martin Crowe and Brett Lee.

Broadcast by ESPN STAR Sports and other official ICC broadcasters, they are the perfect lead-in for cricket fans ahead of next year’s ICC CWC in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka that begins on 19 February.

The programmes chart the evolution of the ICC CWC from humble beginnings in 1975 through to its current status as The Cup That Counts.

Each of the nine previous tournaments are recalled and analysed, and the seven victorious captains also have a programme devoted to their own personal recollections of achieving the ultimate honour in the game – lifting the ICC Cricket World Cup.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: “The ICC Cricket World Cup is cricket’s flagship tournament – it’s The Cup That Counts - so we are delighted that, for the first time, a definitive series of programmes charting its history has been produced.

“The programmes feature the key players from the first nine editions dating back to the inaugural event in 1975 and will serve as the essential historical record of the ICC Cricket World Cup. The timing of its release is also a perfect lead in to the 2011 tournament.

“It is a must-watch television show, not only for those who love and watch the game but also for those who have no real knowledge of our great sport. The programmes capture vividly the fantastic national drama that only the ICC Cricket World Cup can produce.

“These documentaries are the best possible illustration of why the ICC Cricket World Cup is the biggest and best tournament in the game.”

Manu Sawhney, ESPN STAR Sports Managing Director, said: “The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 will draw massive interest from around the globe as cricket’s flagship event, and this compelling cricket programming is a must watch for all cricket fans in the lead up to next year’s showpiece event.

“As the global production and broadcast rights holder for ICC events, this documentary was produced to highlight the proud history and traditions of the Cricket World Cup in perspective to the upcoming blockbuster event next February, and we hope that cricket fans will enjoy every minute of it.”

Imtiaz Patel, Group CEO of MultiChoice South Africa, one the ICC’s official broadcasters for the ICC CWC, said: “The ICC Cricket World Cup is full of extraordinary feats, intense rivalries and gripping human drama, and we look forward to highlight the many personalities and teams that have made this stellar event so well celebrated around the world.

“SuperSport is delighted to be showing every match of the 2011 edition live to its subscribers and this additional content will complement the live transmissions superbly. With the extensive research and value put into the production of these documentaries, this cricket programming will certainly bolster the interest leading up to this remarkable global sports event.”

In total, there are 12 programmes – two devoted to an overall history of the ICC CWC, a further nine on each edition of the tournament (1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2007) and one in which the captains provide their memories of what it took to lift cricket’s greatest prize.

ICC Cricket World Cup fever begins

Legendary cricketers Imran Khan, Kapil Dev, Vivian Richards and Arjuna Ranatunga shared their ideas about how to make the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 presentation truly entertaining and engaging at a recently held press conference.

There were several new initiatives that were proposed in the discussion like live match coverage by 3G mobile streaming in India where fans will enjoy unrestricted access to the biggest cricket event on internet and mobile besides televisions. Also another first of its kind initiative would be the 'Decision Review System' which will be introduced for the first time for any ICC tournament. "It will certainly be a very big challenge to organize an event of this magnitude that will be spread across 13 venues in three host countries — Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka for a month," informs ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 tournament director, Ratnakar Shetty.

"To create more excitement and interest amongst the viewers we have taken some new initiatives which will intensify the passion amongst the cricket fans," added ICC chief executive, Haroon Lorgat.

Speaking on the occasion, former Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan said, "India has performed really well in the last few years. They definitely stand the chance to win the cup. Another team that according to Imran can upstage any strong team is Sri Lanka. "But I'm dying to see India win the cup. The Indian team has turned out to be the best. Best teams do come under pressure and it is all about how you cope with the pressures."

Kapil Dev said, "Two months are left for the world cup to begin. The team is doing well especially the youngsters in the team have done a commendable job in recent matches. At the end of the day, it's all about team spirit and playing according to the situation." Further according to Kapil Dev, the main key players from the Indian team would be MS Dhoni, Sachin, Sehwag, Pathan and Gambhir.

Vivian Richards is, however, rooting for the West Indies team, and believes that the team would do well in the World Cup. He is hopeful that India being a strong team, would definitely reach the final. "The young players have been performing well. Also since the matches will be played on the home ground they are definitely going to have an edge over other teams."

However, Arjuna Rantunga feels that Sri Lanka will come blazing on all cylinders this World Cup. "There is a lot of experienced players in the Sri Lankan team like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Malinga, Muralitharan and others who will surely make a difference."

Wankhede far from ready for the ICC World Cup

Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, which is scheduled to host the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup, seems to be heading the Commonwealth Games way. With less than two months to go for cricket's quadrennial extravaganza, the stadium looks far from ready.

An ICC team recently visited various venues in India to assess the preparation work. Wankhede Stadium was earlier set a deadline of November 30 to complete all work. The new deadline set is January 15 and Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) officials insist that work is as per schedule.

But one look at the work in progress and it seems foolhardy to believe that the deadline will be met. While MCA officials have done their level best to guard the stadium from the media's lens, in.com has exclusive pictures of the construction activity.

Parts of the outfield are in a mess, some of the stands are incomplete and debris is strewn all over the place. Chances are, Wankhede will lose the right to host the final and DY Patil, which has reportedly been put as standby, will stage the event instead.

ICC Cricket World Cup history recorded in definitive television series

The ICC Cricket World Cup (ICC CWC), the game's flagship tournament, now has a definitive visual history thanks to a new series of 12 television programmes.

The programmes produced by ESPN STAR Sports, the ICC's global production and broadcast partner, looks back at the event's rich history through stories told by the players who experienced the highs and the lows. This audio-visual history beautifully captures the precious moments that will stand the test of time.

They feature extensive interviews with all seven ICC CWC-winning captains - Clive Lloyd, Kapil Dev, Allan Border, Imran Khan, Arjuna Ranatunga, Stephen Waugh and Ricky Ponting.

And they also include the views of some other pivotal figures from each tournament, including Sachin Tendulkar, Shane Warne, Ian Botham, Mike Gatting, Wasim Akram, Sanath Jayasuriya, Martin Crowe and Brett Lee.

Broadcast by ESPN STAR Sports and other official ICC broadcasters, they are the perfect lead-in for cricket fans ahead of next year's ICC CWC in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka that begins on 19 February.

The programmes chart the evolution of the ICC CWC from humble beginnings in 1975 through to its current status as The Cup That Counts.

Each of the nine previous tournaments are recalled and analysed, and the seven victorious captains also have a programme devoted to their own personal recollections of achieving the ultimate honour in the game - lifting the ICC Cricket World Cup.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: "The ICC Cricket World Cup is cricket's flagship tournament - it's The Cup That Counts - so we are delighted that, for the first time, a definitive series of programmes charting its history has been produced.

"The programmes feature the key players from the first nine editions dating back to the inaugural event in 1975 and will serve as the essential historical record of the ICC Cricket World Cup. The timing of its release is also a perfect lead in to the 2011 tournament.

"It is a must-watch television show, not only for those who love and watch the game but also for those who have no real knowledge of our great sport. The programmes capture vividly the fantastic national drama that only the ICC Cricket World Cup can produce.

"These documentaries are the best possible illustration of why the ICC Cricket World Cup is the biggest and best tournament in the game."

Manu Sawhney, ESPN STAR Sports Managing Director, said: "The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 will draw massive interest from around the globe as cricket's flagship event, and this compelling cricket programming is a must watch for all cricket fans in the lead up to next year's showpiece event.

"As the global production and broadcast rights holder for ICC events, this documentary was produced to highlight the proud history and traditions of the Cricket World Cup in perspective to the upcoming blockbuster event next February, and we hope that cricket fans will enjoy every minute of it."

Imtiaz Patel, Group CEO of MultiChoice South Africa, one the ICC's official broadcasters for the ICC CWC, said: "The ICC Cricket World Cup is full of extraordinary feats, intense rivalries and gripping human drama, and we look forward to highlight the many personalities and teams that have made this stellar event so well celebrated around the world.

"SuperSport is delighted to be showing every match of the 2011 edition live to its subscribers and this additional content will complement the live transmissions superbly. With the extensive research and value put into the production of these documentaries, this cricket programming will certainly bolster the interest leading up to this remarkable global sports event."

In total, there are 12 programmes - two devoted to an overall history of the ICC CWC, a further nine on each edition of the tournament (1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2007) and one in which the captains provide their memories of what it took to lift cricket's greatest prize.