Cricket Association of Thailand sign historic five-year broadcast deal

Cricket Association of Thailand and Women’s CricZone, a portal dedicated to the coverage of women’s cricket across the globe, have entered into a broadcast partnership, making Women’s CricZone the official streaming platform for all women’s team matches hosted by Cricket Association of Thailand for the next five years.

This is a landmark deal for both parties – Women’s CricZone, still new to the world of live streaming, adding another feather to their cap, and Cricket Thailand, one of the first Asian countries to secure a broadcast partner exclusively for their women’s team. The matches will be streamed live on Women’s CricZone’s YouTube and Facebook channels.

Besides the exclusive streaming of the matches, they will also provide highlights, top moments from the games as well as a peek into the team’s training and preparations.

“Women’s CricZone gives the Thailand women’s national team an outlet of exposure to portray the growth of cricket in Thailand,” said Cricket Association of Thailand CEO, Mohideen A Kader.

“The partnership aims to increase awareness domestically as well as globally of the work the team and the Cricket Association of Thailand has invested to achieve excellence. We are delighted to enter this partnership with Women’s CricZone.”

Currently ranked 11 in the ICC T20I team rankings, Thailand are one of the most improved and exciting Associate teams in the world. Having earned T20 international status in 2018, Thailand went on a record 17-match winning streak that lasted between July 2018 and August 2019. During that run, they beat more established teams like UAE, Uganda, Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands.

Thailand’s rise that culminated in their qualification for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia has been well documented. Their performances through the tournament won hearts around the world. After going down to West Indies, South Africa and England, they made a great account of themselves against Pakistan, scoring 150 for 3 in their 20 overs before rain ruled out a result.

Later that year, right-hand-batter Nattakan Chantham became the first Associate player to feature in the BCCI organised Women’s T20 Challenge when she turned out for the Smriti Mandhana-led Trailblazers. Chantham pulled off an athletic stop on the boundary before taking a superb reflex catch in the circle to help her team to victory in the final.

Speaking about the deal, founder and CEO of Women’s CricZone, Yash Lahoti said: “Thailand is one of the most improved teams in recent teams. Their journey to the T20 World Cup in Australia was nothing short of remarkable. To partner with Cricket Association of Thailand, a board that is hugely supportive of its women’s team, is a huge privilege for us at Women’s CricZone.”

“We have always been committed to increasing the quantity and quality of coverage provided to the women’s game, and we have no doubt this is a step in the right direction. The more visibility the women get, the faster the game will grow.”