ESPN3 to carry ICC World Twenty20 in US

MUMBAI: Cricket fans in the United States will have a chance to watch the ICC World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012 at no additional cost for the first time in September, after ESPN3 was confirmed by ESPN STAR Sports, ICC?s global broadcast partner, as the network in the US for the tournament.

And as a part of the build-up to the ICC World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012, India legend Anil Kumble will travel to the United States this weekend for a series of events promoting the tournament being held in Sri Lanka between 18 September and 7 October 2012.

Kumble will ring the Nasdaq closing bell on Friday in New York City. On Sunday hundreds of thousands of people will take the streets for the annual India Day Parade through the city, where fans will have a chance to see the Indian legend with the ICC World Twenty20 2012 trophies on the ESPN3 float.

The annual India Day Parade, which will be held in New York by Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), is a big celebration for the India community in the United States and also includes other prominent Indian celebrities like actor Saif Ali Khan.

Kumble was thrilled to be leading the efforts to promote the sport to cricket fans in the US ahead of the ICC World Twenty20.

"Twenty20 has for long been considered a product fit for an American audience. I am therefore thrilled to be part of the first major celebration of cricket in the USA for ICC World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012. I am also particularly excited about getting an opportunity to ring the closing bell at NASDAQ and to be part of the India Day Parade on the iconic Madison Avenue," said Kumble.

Kumble also believes live coverage of the tournament at no additional cost to fans will help spread the game to a bigger audience.

"Cricket has also always been a huge draw among the expat Indian population in the USA. So the live coverage of ICC World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012 on ESPN3 in the US will help us get our great game to a bigger and wider audience,? added Kumble.

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson too was delighted at the exciting new opportunity offered by ESPN3 telecasting ICC World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012 in the United States.

"The fact that cricket fans in the United States will be able to get free-to-air coverage on ESPN3 is a significant development for the growth of cricket in this important market. There can be no one better to spread the word about the excitement and energy of cricket ? and Twenty20 cricket in particular ? than Anil Kumble. I am sure that he and all those attending the annual India Day Parade on Madison Avenue ? one of the most famous streets in New York ? will have a memorable time."