The Asian Cricket Council awarded the worldwide TV rights for the second edition of Afro-Asia Cup to ESPN-Star Sports. The deal includes exclusive global television broadcast rights of the tournament in addition to title, on-ground and commercial rights, it said. Nimbus pulled out of an earlier contract with the ACC, citing absence of big names in the tournament, casting the future of the tournament in doubt.
The Afro-Asia Cup takes place in Bangalore and Chennai later this month.
Separately, Nimbus was awarded rights for India-South Africa ODI series in Ireland in June. That series too was under threat when the BCCI's deal with Zee Sports fell through, but Nimbus stepped in to alleviate fears of the tournament being cancelled.
Nimbus agreed to pay $24.20 million for the series and, according to Lalit Modi, the BCCI vice-president.
"Nimbus have agreed to pay US$6.05 million per match for the four matches in Ireland [against South Africa on June 26, 29 and July 1] and Scotland [against Pakistan on July 3]," said Modi.
