Television coverage of the Twenty20 World Cup in Bangladesh beginning on Sunday is set to break all previous ICC events' broadcast records, the world governing body of the game said today.
That coverage, produced and distributed by the ICC's global media rights partner and host broadcaster, Star Sports, will have a potential reach of more than 1.8 billion viewers with live pictures shown by 29 broadcasters -- both figures the highest ever for an ICC event.
And it will be shown in more than 20 languages with pictures going across Europe via Eurosport and as far afield as Norway, Nepal, Afghanistan and the Pacific Islands.
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The production will be among the most sophisticated ever too, with 28 cameras, including seven ultra-motion cameras, Spidercam as well as graphics with key analytics, all of which will take the viewer right to the heart of the action.
All 35 matches in the men's tournament, plus all four of the warm-up matches in Mirpur, will be covered, as well as both semi-finals and the final of the women's event.
A host of legends of the game and experienced broadcasters will be on hand, with Ravi Shastri, Sanjay Manjrekar, Shaun Pollock, Ian Bishop, Sourav Ganguly, Shane Warne, Rameez Raja, Wasim Akram, Russel Arnold, Nick Knight, Nasser Hussain, Harsha Bhogle, Jonty Rhodes, Pommie Mbangwa, Athar Ali Khan, Danny Morrison, Alan Wilkins, Brian Murgatroyd, Isa Guha, Alison Mitchell and Melanie Jones on hand to analyse every moment.
ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said, "We are delighted that more than a quarter of the world's population will have access to live coverage from the World Twenty20 2014, thanks to ICC's broadcast partners.
"In addition to the expanded broadcast footprint, an enhanced production coverage and a world-class commentary team will provide for an excellent viewing experience for fans across the world," he said in an ICC release.