CSN will telecast Champions Trophy action in Sri Lanka:

Around 1.5b will watch the action

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting

The International Cricket Council is leaving no stone unturned to see to the successful conclusion of the last Champions Trophy to be worked off in Cardiff, Birmingham, and the London Oval.

The tournament is to be worked off from June 6 to June 22,2013, and the telecasting rights will be in the hands of the host broadcaster and ICC global partner STAR Sports who will be taking the action to 180 territories.

Believe it or not the action will be watched by an audience of 1.5 billion, thanks to new and extended agreements secured by STAR Sports. Carlton Sports Network, the popular sports channel in Sri Lanka will bring the action live here.

STAR Sports who go for the best men to describe the action have signed on the big names in cricket in former stars such as Sri Lanka’s Russell Arnold, Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Michael Holding,Shane Warne, David Lloyd, Ramiz Raja, Sanjay Manjrekar, Simon Doull, Sourav Gangulay, Sunil Gavaskar, Tom Moody, Wasim Akram, Alan Wilkins, Harsha Bhogle and Pommie Mbangwa. Former Sri Lankan left hand batsman Russell Arnold needs no introduction. After his illustrious cricketing career for St.Peter’s, Nondescripts and Sri Lanka, he took to commentating and was an immediate success.

When the World Twenyty20 was held in Sri Lanka last year, STAR Sports produced a class act and is determined to continue the good work and once again produce (HD) High Definition broadcast covering using 29 cameras, including Spydercam, enhanced Hawkeye cameras, Hot Spot and ultra Slow Motion Cameras. Star Sports will also show the action live of the practice games between the competing teams. According to an ICC release commenting on their involvement in the tournament, two former England Captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton gave their views. Hussain said: ‘I am really looking forward to being part of the STAR Sports commentary team for the ICC Champions Trophy for what I’m sure will be top class coverage of the event. It’s great to have the best eight teams in the world here in England and Wales. The atmosphere will be electric’.

Michael Atherton: ‘The ICC Champions Trophy is one of the best events in cricket. Every game matters and they’ll be played in front of big crowds in the UK. All the teams have a chance of winning – it’s absolutely wide open. I can’t wait to join the STAR Sports team’.

David Richards, Chief Executive ICC: ‘The ICC Champions Trophy 2013 will showcase the best teams in the world and to compliment the on-field action, ICC and STAR Sports will ensure the best possible coverage to the widest audience ever for an international 50-over event’.