ODI World Cup Qualifier: Fans to enjoy live coverage of all matches for the first time

The International Cricket Council today announced the details of its broadcast licensee arrangements as well as its commentary panel for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier being hosted in Zimbabwe from June 18 to July 9.

Each match will be high stakes, with 10 teams contesting for two places at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India that gives them nine guaranteed matches at cricket’s ODI global showpiece. 

For the first time at this event, ICC will produce live coverage of all 34 matches to a global audience, with 20 of these games, played at Harare Sports Club in Harare and the Queen’s Sports Club in Bulawayo produced to a broadcast specification.

For the remaining 14 games, played at the Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare and Bulawayo Athletic Club in Bulawayo, the coverage will be produced to a live-stream specification.

ICC’s Global Broadcast Partner, Star Sports, will broadcast televised matches within the Indian sub-continent, via the Star Sports 1 channel in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and live stream all 34 games into India via Disney+Hotstar, where all fixtures will also be streamed on FanCode. In Nepal, fans can stream all 34 fixtures on Net TV.

In Sri Lanka, all 34 matches will be shared across TV1 and Sirasa TV channels, with digital coverage via the Maharaja TV website. Cricket fans in Bangladesh can access selected matches live on Gazi TV, with all matches live streamed via Rabbithole and Toffee. In Pakistan, PTV Sports will air the 20 high spec games live on PTV Sports with all 34 matches available live on the corresponding app.

In the Caribbean Islands, televised matches will be on ESPN and ESPN 2 with live streamed fixtures on ESPN Play. Willow TV will broadcast 20 TV matches across North America, with live streaming of the full schedule available via Hotstar in Canada and on ESPN+ in the United States.

In the Caribbean Islands, televised matches will be on ESPN and ESPN 2 with live streamed fixtures on ESPN Play. Willow TV will broadcast 20 TV matches across North America, with live streaming available via Hotstar in Canada and on ESPN+ in the United States.

Sky Sports will broadcast all 20 TV games into the United Kingdom and Ireland via the Sky Sports Cricket channel, with all matches available to stream on the Sky Sports app. Continental Europe, including The Netherlands will see all matches streamed on Yupp TV.

Fans in Zimbabwe can enjoy their home event on television via SuperSport and streamed via the SuperSport app. Supersport will showcase the event across all of sub-Saharan Africa including South Africa via their Grandstand and Cricket television channels and their digital app.

CricLife and CricLife Max will televise matches in the Middle East, including in Oman and the UAE, with streamed matches available on StarzPlay, Switch TV and Du platforms.

The full list of broadcasters is available here.

Short form highlights will be available via ICC Digital platforms, including the ICC Website and through the @ICC and @cricketworldcup accounts on Meta-owned social media channels Instagram and Facebook. BBC Sport will provide short-form content to cricket fans in the UK & Ireland and global audio coverage will be made available via Digital 2 Sports on YouTube.

For the first time in this tournament, DRS will be used from the Super Six stage onwards. The DRS specification includes ball tracking and edge detection technology, provided by Hawk-Eye. 

The ICC TV production is supported by production services partner Sunset+Vine and equipment services partner NEP Broadcast Solutions. AE Live will deliver the on-air graphics for the broadcast coverage. 

The commentary team will feature Mpumelelo Mbangwa, Ian Bishop, Natalie Germanos, Andy Flower, Ashwell Prince, Carlos Brathwaite, Preston Mommsen, Brian Murgatroyd, Samuel Badree, Niall O'Brien, Ed Rainsford, Russel Arnold, Dirk Nannes and Mitchell McClenaghan.

The live-streamed matches will additionally feature Raunak Kapoor, Andrew Leonard, Nikhil Uttamchandani, Firdose Moonda and Tino Mawoyo.

Mpumelelo Mbangwa

“It is with great anticipation that I look forward to the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier. The significance of the event cannot be overstated. Whilst there is a nuanced appreciation for each team participating, the competition is a marker for the direction of our great game and requires that each give their best under the intense pressure of expectation. 

“As this plays out on the field, the Zimbabwe cricket fans will bring an electric vibrancy off it which will make any long-distance observer envious, and many a visitor happy to have made the trip. I cannot wait!”

Natalie Germanos

“The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is the pinnacle of the format and the opportunity to play in the event is so close for these teams. 

“It’s a privilege to be part of the broadcast team that will bring the qualifying tournament to life. I am eagerly awaiting to see how this incredible tournament unfolds, and to witness dreams being realised.”

Ian Bishop

“The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup continues to be a high watermark for all male cricketers who desire to fulfil lifelong ambitions of competing against the best of their peers. Hence, for the ten teams, and the multiplicity of players vying for the two remaining spots to fulfil that dream will once again arouse intense competition, entertainment and mouthwatering drama for players and fans alike. 

“My colleagues and I are eager and privileged to once again be able to cover and relay the stories and excitement of these battles to you over the next three weeks, and eager to finally reveal the eventual victors.”