ESPN360.com to Feature Exclusive Live Coverage in the U.S. of 2008 Asian Cup Cricket Tournament

June 24 – July 6 Tournament Includes National Cricket Teams from India, Pakistan, UAE, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka

June 23, 2008 -- ESPN has reached an agreement to provide exclusive, live coverage of the 2008 Asia Cup Cricket Tournament on ESPN360.com in the U.S. and its territories. The six-team, 13-match biennial tournament features several of the world’s powerhouse national teams – including one of cricket’s fiercest international rivalries, India and Pakistan - and will be played June 24 through July 6 in Pakistan.

The tournament will be available live, and for replay, exclusively on ESPN360.com. Cricinfo.com, the leading cricket news and information site, also will feature extensive highlights of the tournament, matched with its news, scores and analysis.

“ESPN360.com is uniquely suited to serve the fans of ‘passion sports’ such as cricket, with growing and extremely devoted followers in the U.S.,” said Damon Phillips, vice president and general manager, ESPN360.com. “The Asia Cup is one of the world’s premiere cricket events, and is a fantastic addition to a programming lineup that already includes international soccer like Euro2008, the NBA and Euroleague basketball, golf and tennis majors, college football and basketball, international rugby and much more.”

Cricinfo will feature highlights and full editorial coverage, reporting from each match in Pakistan. The leading cricket destination will provide live scoring and ball-by-ball commentary as well as 3D animation of each match, podcasts and a fantasy game during the tournament.

The Asia Cup features 13 official One Day International (ODI) matches. In ODI format (the same format as the Cricket World Cup) each match is played over 50 “overs” per side. An over is a set of six consecutive legal balls bowled in succession.

Hosted for the first time ever in Pakistan, matches for the 2008 Asia Cup tournament will be played in Karachi and Lahore. The tournament features two groups – A and B – with all match coverage starting at 7 a.m. ET on ESPN360.com. The final will be played July 6 in Karachi. All matches will also be available for full replay after conclusion.

2008 Asia Cup Cricket Schedule

GROUP A

GROUP B

Sri Lanka

India

Bangladesh

Pakistan

UAE

Hong Kong

Match Schedule - All matches LIVE on ESPN360.com beginning 7 a.m. ET

June 24
Bangladesh v UAE in Lahore
Pakistan v Hong Kong in Karachi

June 25
Bangladesh v Sri Lanka in Lahore
Hong Kong v India in Karachi

June 26
Sri Lanka v UAE in Lahore
Pakistan v India in Karachi

June 28
A2 v B2 in Karachi

June 29
A1 v B1 in Karachi

June 30
A1 v A2 in Karachi

July 2
B1 v B2 in Karachi

July 3
A1 v B2 in Karachi

July 4
A2 v B1 in Karachi

July 6
FINAL in Karachi

ESPN360.com is ESPN's signature broadband sports network, giving fans a 24/7 online destination delivering more than 2,500 live, global sports events annually. The service is free to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection from an affiliated service provider. It is currently available in nearly 24 million homes nationwide via more than 20 Internet service providers nationwide including AT&T, Verizon, RCN, Insight, Frontier, Cavalier, Charter, Mediacom, Conway, Grande Communications and more.

ESPN360.com has nearly tripled its distribution since November 2006. It is also available at no cost to approximately 18 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks (those with “.edu” and “.mil” domains).

Consumers wanting more information about ESPN360.com, which Internet services currently provide it, and how they can get it should go to espn360.com.

About Cricinfo:

Cricinfo is the world's leading cricket website, ranked number one in all of its major markets. The site was founded in 1993, and its continuing success is built on the combination of live ball-by-ball coverage of all Test and one-day international matches, news and features written by some of the world's best cricket writers, and in-depth statistics on every one of the 3,000 international and 45,000 first class cricketers to have played the game.

Cricinfo now reaches more than nine million users every month. Additionally, Cricinfo reaches the mobile Web as well, providing fans Cricinfo content on mobile applications and through some of the world's leading internet portals.

Source: ESPN

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