Terming it a landmark decision in cricket history, the Zee television network on Tuesday announced the Twenty20 tournament matches of the newly formed rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) will be telecast live on 25 of its channels for some duration.
A Zee network spokesman said that the decision had been taken to telecast the first 30 minutes of ICL matches live on 25 channels owned by the network. These will include national and regional channels. The matches will, however, not be telecast on the Zee Cinema and Zee Studio channels.
The full matches will be telecast on the Zee Sports channel.
Describing the decision as monumental, the spokesman added that it was for the first time in the history of world cricket that this kind of platform was being offered to domestic cricket.
The Zee network claims to reach out to 550 million homes worldwide.
ICL, which has been promoted by the Essel Group that also owns the Zee network, will be played at the Tau Devi Lal sports complex at Panchkula, 15 km from here, from Nov 30 to Dec 16.
Over two dozen international players, including Brian Lara, Nathan Astle, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Chris Cairns and Marvan Attapatu will play in the tournament featuring six club sides. Each team has been given five international players while the remaining will be Indian cricketers.
{{/usCountry}}Over two dozen international players, including Brian Lara, Nathan Astle, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Chris Cairns and Marvan Attapatu will play in the tournament featuring six club sides. Each team has been given five international players while the remaining will be Indian cricketers.
{{/usCountry}}This is the first event by ICL, a parallel league to the cash-rich Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which selects the Indian national squad.
The BCCI has already declared ICL as a rebel league.