THE INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL (ICC) has attracted leading international publishers and major Indian digital firms for its gaming rights and has extended the original deadline for submissions (April 21) to the first week of May.
A report in Whalesbook said the bidding process has seen participation from companies such as Electronic Arts (EA), Krafton, Big Ants Studio, Reliance Jio, Dream Cricket, and Nazara Technologies. The ICC had issued an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for gaming rights covering both mobile and console platforms. The process is being managed by ICC Business Corporation (IBC), the governing body’s commercial arm.
The ICC’s offering goes beyond basic licensing, providing a comprehensive digital ecosystem. Licensing covers mobile gaming rights for 2028–2034 and console gaming rights for 2029–2034. Successful bidders will gain access to player names, likenesses, and team identities, ICC tournament data and branding, official logos and visual assets. This enables creation of fully licensed, realistic cricket gaming experiences, similar to FIFA or NBA 2K in football and basketball.
Full rights (including ICC tournament IP) have been offered for India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and limited rights for other cricket boards, with certain restrictions. India remains the most valuable market, given its massive cricket fan base. The exclusions include major domestic leagues such as IPL, Big Bash League, The Hundred, and legendary players like Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni. Separate licensing agreements will be required for these assets. The ICC has proposed a hybrid commercial structure with a minimum guaranteed annual fee or 15% of net gaming revenue (whichever is higher).
