Arab Digital Distribution brings live coverage of ICC World Twenty20 to viewers in Mena

The 17-day tournament will feature 12 participating countries including 9 test playing nations and 3 ICC associate members: Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands.

Arab Digital Distribution (ADD), one of the largest pay TV platforms in the Mena region, brings all the live action, game analysis and key player interviews to its Pehla Gold, Pehla Silver and Firstnet Premium subscribers.

The glitz and glamour of twenty20 version lures the cricket fans and it is expected that ICC World Twenty20 would be another successful tournament. T20 format has become the money -spinner for the cricketers and the game has never seen as much money and viewers involved as it is now seen through DLF-Indian Premier League (IPL).

With the raw excitement of DLF-IPL season ending, ART Prime Sport brings loaded action from the T20 cricketing world back to its viewers.

Expressing his delight at ADD's success in bringing these widely watched matches to sports enthusiasts across the region, Mr Alwyn Rodrigues, Senior Regional Manager - Marketing & Business Development, said, "This year's tournament promises greater value for spectators and double the level of excitement because each of the men's and women's semi-finals and finals will be played as double-headers at the same venues. It will truly be a shot in the arm for the women's game, providing it greater world exposure to cricket enthusiasts."

According to Mr Rodrigues, the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 2007 proved to be one of the most dramatic cricketing events of all time, sparking global interest in the shortest format of the game.

"The final between India and Pakistan created television history, with TV ratings touching a peak. I am sure this year's tournament will evoke as much enthusiasm in the region, given the large number of expatriates for whom cricket is almost a religion," he said.

The ICC World Twenty20 features the 12 nations - India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, England, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Ireland, Netherlands, West Indies and Scotland - divided into four groups for the preliminary group stage matches at three venues - Lord's, Trent Bridge and The Oval, beginning with the face-off between England and Netherlands on June 5 and ending with the India-Ireland tie on June 10.

The warm-up matches including the India vs New Zealand match on June 1 and the India vs Pakistan match on June 3, will be broadcast. Apart from this, there will be a two-episode curtain raiser titled 'The Story of the ICC World Twenty20'.

The episodes in five parts present a review of the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 held in South Africa 2007, including the India-Pakistan final, which is considered as one of the greatest televised matches of all time. The viewers can enjoy complete cricketing with game analysis, exclusive interviews with key players, match officials and commentators.

The women's ICC World Twenty20 semi-finals and finals will be followed with men's T20 semi-finals and finals on the same date and venue, giving women's cricket much needed leverage. ART Prime Sport will broadcast the semi-finals and the finals featuring the four qualifying teams of both Men's and Women's edition as a double headers on June 18 and June 19 at Trent Bridge and The Oval. The finals, also a double header, will be taking place on June 21 at Lords.