CricketNext is Internet partner for ICC World Cup 2003

Mumbai: CricketNext (www.cricketnext.com), the Walchand Capital Group-driven Internet portal, has bagged the prestigious rights for the mega ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa commencing on 8 February 2003.

Says CricketNext managing director Sanjay Jha: “CricketNext has already successfully hosted and managed the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka last September in a similar capacity as a website partner. Now, the World Cup is a mega event and we will be deploying exceptional editorial, marketing and technological resources to make the event a runaway success.“

CricketNext has demonstrated its outstanding success through incisive editorial coverage, interactive features and financial resilience resulting in approximately 85-million page views per month, and over 600,000 regular visitors.

Says CricketNext director Pallavi Jha: “For the first time ever, there will be large-scale global webcasting of the event, including live streaming, video highlights, delayed relays and audio commentary. With improved broadband availability in recent times, we expect an overwhelming response to webcasting from non-resident Indians and other customers, particularly in countries where cricket is not the prime sport on local channels.“

She adds that CricketNext will also be offering SMS services, with pre-determined alerts on scores, and other match highlights, given their rising popularity.

“The site will provide visitors with ball-by-ball scorecards, previews and game analysis, exclusive photos, instant match reports, international columnists, weather forecasts, quizzes, contests, cartoons and games. Thus, the site will be an ideal place for the 3Cs — connoisseur, convert and the casual visitor,“ says Sanjay Jha.