The International Cricket Council (ICC) has joined forces with Near Foundation to launch a blockchain-driven Web3 app to enhance the fan experience for India’s upcoming 2023 Cricket World Cup.

Finn Bradshaw, ICC’s head of digital, and Near CEO Chris Donovan earlier discussed the specifics of the app. According to Bradshaw and Donovan, the app’s goal is to fuel fan engagement during the matches, as well as before and after the games.

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Bradshaw claims that ICC’s first venture into the Web3 ecosystem was in 2022, with the launch of FanCraze, a non-fungible token (NFT) platform allowing fans to own unique highlights from historical ICC tournament moments.

We loved the community that grew around that product, so we have been looking for other use cases that help strengthen our fans’ love of cricket.

The newly launched app will feature prediction games in which fans can employ strategy to select game outcomes. Fans will gain points depending on the accuracy of these selections in relation to actual match outcomes. These points will factor into competition leaderboards and contribute to earning rewards throughout the tournament. 

Near Foundation’s Blockchain Operating System was particularly appealing to the ICC because it seamlessly interoperates with other blockchain networks. While Near operates on a Layer-1 blockchain, its architecture is built to support scalable communication, smart contracts, and transactions across various blockchain ecosystems. 

Chris Donovan emphasized that the partnership, set to last until December 2025, would likely uncover additional use cases for Web3 technologies.

In partnering with the most popular sport on the sub-continent, we expect it to be a showcase for the ecosystem’s technology and partners in demonstrating what a mass-market Web3 application looks like.

The alliance between the ICC and Near Foundation marks a significant step in expanding the use of blockchain technology in sports, particularly for enhancing fan engagement. The 2023 Cricket World Cup, scheduled to start on October 5th and conclude on November 19th, serves as an ideal platform for showcasing the capabilities of Web3 technology to a broad audience.

In other news, at the beginning of the year, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) banned Women’s Premier League teams from partnering with crypto-related firms.