Indian pay-television broadcaster DSport will broadcast the country’s national cricket team for the first time after acquiring rights to the upcoming Nidahas Trophy Twenty20 tournament.
The tournament is due to take place from March 8-20 and will feature India, Bangladesh and host nation Sri Lanka. The competition, which is being staged to celebrate Sri Lanka's 70th year of independence, will be held at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.
DSport launched last year and is owned by Discovery Communications. The broadcaster has secured rights to a number of events across a range of sports since launching. Its most recent rights deal, for the Bellator mixed martial arts series, was signed earlier this week.
Thilanga Sumathipala, president of the Sri Lanka Cricket board, confirmed the award of the Nidahas Trophy rights to DSport in an interview with the Pakistan Observer newspaper.
Another SLC official said: “We had a few more offers, but Discovery’s offer was the best.”
DSport broadcast last year’s Twenty20 series between Pakistan and an International Cricket Council World XI, and will also show the upcoming edition of the Pakistan Super League Twenty20 competition, which begins next month.