Cricket World Cup chief executive John Harnden says Sunday’s grudge-match between India and Pakistan in Adelaide could be the most-watched cricket match in history.
More than a billion people are expected to tune into the match worldwide when the two rivals kick off their respective World Cup campaigns in front of a sold-out Adelaide Oval.
The TV audience is expected to rival that of the billion-plus that watched the 2014 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Germany last July, and will be 10 times bigger than the 114 million that tuned into the 2015 Superbowl.
Harden says the clash was sold out in 20 minutes and fully expected it to be the most-watched game in the history of the sport.
More than a billion people are expected to tune into the match worldwide when the two rivals kick off their respective World Cup campaigns in front of a sold-out Adelaide Oval.
The TV audience is expected to rival that of the billion-plus that watched the 2014 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Germany last July, and will be 10 times bigger than the 114 million that tuned into the 2015 Superbowl.
Harden says the clash was sold out in 20 minutes and fully expected it to be the most-watched game in the history of the sport.
“If you look at since the last World Cup and the work the ICC has done to expand its broadcast footprint around the globe, this could very well be the most watched game in the history of cricket,” Harnden is quoted as saying by Box Score News.
“Both the sides have a huge fan following all over the world. The match sold out in 20 minutes, (and) when we put some further tickets on sale in November, they were literally gone in seconds.
“The passion from all around the world … I actually think it’s going to be something that probably we’ve never experienced before in this country.”
India and Pakistan face off on Sunday at 3.30am (GMT).
“Both the sides have a huge fan following all over the world. The match sold out in 20 minutes, (and) when we put some further tickets on sale in November, they were literally gone in seconds.
“The passion from all around the world … I actually think it’s going to be something that probably we’ve never experienced before in this country.”
India and Pakistan face off on Sunday at 3.30am (GMT).
By: Farai Diza
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