Al Jazeera acquires English cricket in the Middle East and North Africa

Qatari pay-television broadcaster Al Jazeera has acquired live rights in the Middle East and North Africa to English domestic cricket’s Twenty20 league, for the 2012 season, from ESPN Star Sports, the rights-holder in the region.

Al Jazeera will show live coverage of 25 matches from the league, which started yesterday and concludes on August 25.

ESPN Star Sports recently renewed its rights deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board for rights to English domestic cricket and home internationals for a further seven years, from 2013 to 2019.