By IANS
New Delhi : ESPN-STAR Sports were Thursday awarded the telecast rights of the second Afro-Asia Cup that starts in Bangalore June 6, after the original rights holder Nimbus pulled out.
The series comprises three One-day Internationals (ODIs) between Asia and Africa. Besides, two Twenty20 matches between the women's and men's teams of the two continents will be played June 5, a day before the Afro-Asia Cup begins.
Asian Cricket Council (ACC) CEO Syed Ashraful Huq announced the deal with ESPN-STAR Sports.
"We are extremely pleased to extend our relationship with ESPN-STAR Sports with the forthcoming edition of the Afro-Asia Cup," he said in a statement.
Said the ESPN and STAR Sports: "ACC, the apex body for management of cricket in Asia, today awarded the worldwide rights for telecasting the second edition of the Afro-Asia Cup to ESPN-STAR Sports.
"These rights include exclusive global television broadcast rights of the tournament in addition to title and on-ground rights. All other commercial rights are also included as part of this landmark deal along with the responsibility for television production of the matches as well."
Chennai will stage the second and third matches of the Afro-Asia Cup June 9 and 10.
The total prize-money on offer is $100,000. The winning team of each match will receive $25,000, the man of the match $5,000 and the man of the tournament $10,000. All participating players will be paid $5,000 for each match.
Nimbus pulled out of the deal with the ACC apparently because several star players like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble from India, Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas from Sri Lanka, Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar and South Africa captain Graeme Smith are missing from the two teams for different reasons.
"The rights for the Afro-Asia Cup were previously with Nimbus but due to Nimbus' non-fulfilment of contractual obligations that contract stands cancelled and ACC has now gone ahead and granted the rights to ESPN-STAR Sports," said ESPN and STAR Sports.
R.C. Venkateish, managing director of ESPN Software India Pvt. Ltd., said the award of the rights is a vindication of the channels' commitment to the highest standards of television experience.
"Our distribution strength will ensure that cricket fans across India and abroad will be able to enjoy the telecast of this grand cricketing spectacle," he said.
"Our telecast of the Afro-Asia Cup 2007 will include world-class graphics, special interviews, reports and the star-studded ESPN STAR Sports commentary team 'A Few Good Men', who will be back in action," Venkateish said of the commentary team comprising Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Harsha Bhogle among others.
Men's squads:
Asian for ODIs: Mahela Jayawardene (captain, Sri Lanka), Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka), Virender Sehwag (India), Upul Tharanga (Sri Lanka), Sourav Ganguly (India), Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan), Yuvraj Singh (India), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicket-keeper, India), Harbhajan Singh (India), Zaheer Khan (India), Dilhara Fernando (Sri Lanka), Mashrafe Mortaza (Bangladesh), Mohammad Rafique (Bangladesh) and Mohammad Asif (Pakistan)
African for ODIs: Mark Boucher (captain-wicket-keeper, South Africa), Steve Tikolo (vice-captain, Kenya), Loots Bosman (South Africa), Johan Botha (South Africa), Elton Chigumbura (Zimbabwe), A.B. De Villiers (South Africa), Justin Kemp (South Africa), Albi Morkel (South Africa), Boeta Dipenaar (South Africa), Thomas Odoyo (Kenya), Peter Ongondo (Kenya), Shaun Pollock (South Africa), Vusi Sibanda (Zimbabwe), Morn'e Morkel (South Africa)
Asian for Twenty20: Shoaib Malik (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Imran Nazir, Mohammad Ashraful, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal (wicket-keeper), Farveez Maharoof, Abdur Razzak, Mashrafe Mortaza and Sreesanth
Africa for Twenty20: Tanmay Mishra (captain, Kenya), Goolam Bodi (vice-captain, South Africa), Alex Obanda (Kenya), Morris Ouma (Kenya), Nehemiah Odhiambo (Kenya), Thandi Tshabalala (South Africa), Albie Morkel (South Africa), Mornâ Morkel (South Africa), Loots Bosman (South Africa), Keith Dabengwa (Zimbabwe), Tawanda Mupariwa (Zimbabwe), Friday Kasteni (Zimbabwe) and Hiren Varaiya (Kenya)
Women's teams:
Asia: Mithali Raj (captain, India), H.A.S.D. Siriwardene (vice-captain, Sri Lanka), Sulakshana Naik (wicket-keeper, India), L.D.V.V. Silva (Sri Lanka), Jaya Sharma (India), P.R.C.S. Kumarihami (Sri Lanka), Bismah Mahroof (Pakistan), Jhulan Goswami (India), Rumeli Dhar (India), Pride Dimri (India), Urooj Mumtaz Khan (Pakistan) and L.E. Kaushalya (Sri Lanka)
Africa: Margaret Banja (Kenya), Yvonne Mashedi (Kenya), Ashlyn Kilowan (South Africa), Cri-Zelda Brits (South Africa), Alicia Smith (South Africa), Saida Ramadhani (Tanzania), Mwanaiddi Shakim (Tanzania), Trisha Chetty (South Africa), Frankline Najjumba (Uganda), Christine Aryemo (Uganda), Julie Chibhabha (Zimbabwe) and Thandolwenkosi Milo (Zimbabwe)