Sale of ICC commercial rights from 2007 - 2015 to commence shortly

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed it is preparing to commence the process of selling the media and sponsorship rights to Events scheduled to take place between the second half of 2007 and the ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2015.

The period includes 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.

The ICC intends to commence the process for the sale of the audio-visual rights to its Events with the issue of tender documents to interested broadcasters, agencies and other persons qualified to bid, something expected to take place prior to October's ICC Champions Trophy. It will also commence discussions with interest sponsors during the same time period.

Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed will lead the ICC in meetings with potential media partners and sponsors, with former President Ehsan Mani acting as a consultant for the ICC during negotiations.

Mr Mani, who stepped down in July after three years as ICC President, was involved in negotiations for 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 ICC's Executive Board began this process in April when it confirmed the venues for ICC Events from the second half of 2007 to the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.

"With those venues and the timings for the tournaments agreed, we are now in a position to go to market to obtain the best deal for cricket.

"The sale of these rights is of huge significance for cricket throughout the world at all levels as the revenue it generates will play a pivotal role in sustaining and growing the game.

"I am delighted Ehsan has agreed to act as a consultant with us in this process as he played a significant role in securing the previous agreement and his experience and expertise in this area is certain to be invaluable."

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