Experts to analyse all teams pre and post WC matches; Hindi feed for Sportscenter

Media News

New Delhi, 14 March

ESPN STAR Sports, Asia’s premier sports broadcaster, will be gearing up for the 2007 ICC World Cup at the West Indies with some special World Cup programming initiatives on its channels for its viewers in the sub continent. The channels will have it’s “A Few Good Men” analysing team chances and performances pre, during and post World Cup matches to be held in the West Indies. The special programming goes on air from early March onwards to build the World Cup fever.

On air since March 5, 2007 ESPN has launched the Shaz and Waz preview show that will explore the chances of the top eight teams and their 15 man squads for the World Cup. The half an hour show hosted by the suave former Indian captain, Ravi Shastri, and the enigmatic former Pakistani fast bowler and captain, Wasim Akram, is being aired daily at 2300 hrs IST. Shaz and Waz will not only be analysing the key players that will make the difference this World Cup but will also be speaking to some of the greats from each country regarding their team’s chances at the cup this year.

Announcing the special initiatives, Mr R C Venkateish, Managing Director, ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd said, “Cricket is a religion in our country and we plan to make sure that every cricket fanatic in India gets his daily dose of World Cup on ESPN STAR Sports. The games at the World Cup will be concluding in the early hours of morning India time and other than matches involving India people are not likely to have stayed up and watched the game. Our expert panel comprising of some of the greats from the world of cricket will provide the audiences with all the views, analysis and reports for all those matches through their rich and experienced know how.”

To serve its viewers a daily dose of happenings at the cup, ESPN will air a unique breakfast show, Taking Guard that will keep cricket fans up to speed with the latest at the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup at the West Indies. The show to be aired from March 12 every morning during the World Cup will have a match review from the previous night and a preview for the coming evening match for all 51 matches played. The show will hosted by Alan Wilkins and later by Harsha Bhogle and will comprise a celebrated panel of ex-cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, Wasim Akram and Pat Symcox who will be discussing all happenings and events during the ICC World Cup.

The daily news show, Sportcenter, will also be donning a new look and feel during the World Cup. To be aired twice in Hindi every day during the World Cup with the theme ‘Mission World Cup’, the show will primarily focus on World Cup centric content. The show will preview the World Cup from March 5 to March 12 followed by actual coverage from March 13 onwards. Sportcenter will also be sending a three member team to the World Cup, who will follow each and every moment of Team India as they progress in the tournament.

Apart from giving regular updates of the scores and on going match reports, Sportscenter will have some special segments during the World Cup to enhance its coverage of the biggest cricketing tournament -

Dressing Room- for an insider’s view on team strategies and planning

Player Interviews- exclusive interviews with Indian and foreign players

Expert Ki Advice- expert advice from Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Wasim Akram to the teams involved

Cricket Katha- favourite tales of players related to the World Cup

Reporter’s Dairy- daily report by the reporter in West Indies on interesting information regarding players, off field activities, colours, cities, venues of the World Cup

World Cup Trivia- trivia on the World Cup history

For further information, contact

Tarundeep Singh, 9811017310