In a groundbreaking move aimed at revolutionizing fan engagement in the world of cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the NEAR Foundation have officially inked a multiyear partnership. The collaboration, which was announced on September 27, 2023, is set to leverage Web3 tools built on the NEAR Blockchain to bring fans closer to the sport.
The official X (previously Twitter) handle of NEAR Protocol shared the trailer of this announcement in a tweet:
*chirp chirp*
— NEAR Protocol (@NEARProtocol) September 27, 2023
Hear that? That’s the sound of crickets 🦗
Oh never mind, we got mixed up.
That’s the sound of a new era of fan engagement in cricket as the NEAR Foundation partners with the International Cricket Council (@ICC) to usher in the next level of fan engagement 🏏 pic.twitter.com/xIh6nQ1iqE
Under this partnership, the NEAR Foundation assumes the role of the ICC’s official blockchain partner. Its primary objective is to introduce novel ways for cricket enthusiasts to connect with their favourite teams and players using cutting-edge Web3 technology.
Finn Bradshaw, Head of Digital at the ICC, expressed his enthusiasm for the venture, stating,
We are excited to embark on this partnership with NEAR Foundation and to use their technology and network of talent to create better and deeper fan engagement around the globe. We are looking forward to exploring ways in which we can use new technology to create lasting, valuable experiences for our fans.
The partnership’s inaugural project will debut as part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, commencing on October 5 in India. Utilizing NEAR’s Blockchain Operating System (B.O.S), the ICC will introduce a pre-match strategy challenge, enabling players to compete in selecting the ultimate cricket team.
Participants will make choices across three critical aspects of the challenge: batting, bowling, and fielding. As the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup unfolds, participants will accumulate points based on the real-life performance of the players they have chosen. A leaderboard will track fans’ performance, with weekly winners receiving prizes such as match tickets, exclusive events, Men’s Cricket World Cup merchandise, and more.
Following the conclusion of the Men’s Cricket World Cup, the partnership between the NEAR Foundation and the ICC is set to continue through the end of 2025. During this period, both organizations have committed to collaborating on the development of additional Web3 use cases designed to bring fans even closer to the sport. Initial projects include the creation of a fan passport that allows fans to record their experiences and interactions in a tamper-proof manner across various touchpoints, both online and offline.
Chris Donovan, CEO of the NEAR Foundation, expressed his excitement about the partnership, saying,
Given the immense size and popularity of cricket, the NEAR ecosystem will potentially be exposed to hundreds of millions of cricket fans who will have the opportunity to learn about NEAR Foundation’s mission of increasing the adoption of an open web and get the chance to interact with Web3 use cases built on the Blockchain Operating System.
In other recent blockchain news, software company Cheesecake Labs and the blockchain platform Stellar Network collaborated with MoneyGram to introduce a non-custodial cryptocurrency wallet in Q1 2024. This groundbreaking wallet will offer global consumers a seamless bridge between traditional fiat and digital assets, all under the trusted MoneyGram brand.
