ICC confirms next stage of commercial rights sale to start in late September

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today confirmed this month will mark the next stage of its sale of media and sponsorship rights for Events from late 2007 to 2015.

Potential commercial partners that meet the ICC's criteria for bidding will be invited to Dubai at the end of September to further progress the process that began in April when the ICC's Executive Board decided the hosts for its tournaments in that eight-year period.

Included in that period are 18 ICC tournaments with two ICC Cricket World Cups, in Asia (2011) and Australasia (2015), and a minimum of three ICC Champions Trophy tournaments.

Also included are the first two ICC Twenty20 World Championships, in South Africa (2007) and England (2009), the latter taking place in the ICC's centenary year.

And there are Cricket World Cup qualifiers, four ICC U/19 Cricket World Cups, and, for the first time, the Women's Cricket World Cup, with two tournaments scheduled for 2009 (Australia) and 2013 (India) in the eight-year timeframe.

Those potential partners who meet the ICC's qualification criteria that have already made expressions of interest will shortly be receiving correspondence detailing when they will be able to meet ICC officials for talks.

And any interested parties yet to express interest in the rights can still do so by contacting, the ICC - reference audiovisual rights using the address at the foot of this media release.

The ICC's team of negotiators will include former President Ehsan Mani, who played a key role in securing the current agreement, with Global Cricket Corporation (GCC), which is owned by News International Limited.

That agreement, which began in 2000 and ends with the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup in the West Indies next March and April, includes two ICC Cricket World Cups and four ICC Champions Trophy tournaments, and is worth $US550 million.

ICC Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed said: "The sale of the ICC's commercial and broadcast rights makes this a hugely significant and exciting time for cricket.

"That sale gives us the opportunity to place cricket on a sound financial footing for the next eight years and, by doing that, it will provide all our Members with the chance to both sustain and grow the game.

"We have been gratified and encouraged by the expressions of interest we have already received. We are now looking forward to meeting our potential partners and have only one aim in mind - securing the best deal for cricket."

Further details and updates of the sales process will be announced in due course.