Stats named as official ICC data partner

In this role, Stats will provide live ball-by-ball coverage for all major ICC events beginning with this week's ICC World Twenty20 in England and followed by the ICC Champions Trophy to be staged in South Africa in September/October.

Stats will also begin building a historical ICC statistical database. Under the three-year deal Stats will not only serve ICC's own data requirements but will hold an exclusive license to market and sell ICC-branded data services and applications to multi-media and other entities.

"This is the first time the ICC has looked for an official partner in this area so we are pleased to be able to work with an accomplished operator like Stats," said Campbell Jamieson, ICC General Manager - Commercial.

"Data rights are an emerging area within the business of sport and it is important that ICC takes a balanced approach to the commercialisation of scores and statistics generated from ICC events," he said.

"As well as forming an additional source of revenue for the sport of cricket, the ICC views the creation of an official data service and ICC-branded data applications as being another great service for fans of international cricket," he said.

Steve Byrd, Stats' Executive Vice-President, said:

"We are honoured by this commitment from the ICC. Demand for world-class cricket content is extremely high among our global network of media clients. We look forward to bringing an exciting array of official ICC-branded interactive solutions to cricket fans across the globe, including fantasy games and rich broadband match trackers."

Stats match tracker is an innovative web component that provides real-time scorecards, player statistics, match facts and more while offering advertisers and marketers a unique brand-building tool. The match tracker application was created by Sportz Interactive, a leading interactive media and digital sports content provider based in Mumbai, and a member of Stats' global network.