With just 50 days to go for the start of the Cricket World Cup, the buzz has started to build. And for us in the media space, it is a massive event. Just like the teams, we need to plan and prepare. What are we going to offer our viewers? Why should they come and watch you, in what is a hugely cluttered space? What sort of curtain-raisers can you offer for the big show?
We are delighted to launch the World Cup and Asia Cup special series of Backstage With Boria today, and the line-up is the best we could have hoped to assemble. It is commonly accepted that bowlers win you matches, and taking the proverbial new ball for us at RevSportz is Shoaib Akhtar, the fastest bowler the world has ever seen. Shoaib will feature in the first episode, to be aired on August 18 at noon.
If you think there would be some respite from the other end, you are mistaken. Sharing the new ball will be Ian Bishop, one of the world’s best commentators and a personal favourite of mine. It’s a riveting conversation where he sets things up beautifully for us.
Bowling first change will be Makhaya Ntini, the South African champion who has the most fascinating insights on how to bowl to Virat Kohli. Joining him off a long run is the legendary Sir Curtly Ambrose. Frankly, there are no loose deliveries to hit!
The middle overs are really well taken care of with Brad Hogg, World Cup winner with Australia, operating from one end with his wrist spin. He has given us a real masterclass on Kuldeep Yadav. If it’s Hoog from one end, it is Maheesh Theekshana, Sri Lanka’s latest mystery spinner, from the other, to set up the India-Sri Lanka game on November 2.
If you think we are missing all-rounders, fear not. We have Marcus Stoinis, the Australian superstar, from one end, speaking about the leadership of Pat Cummins, the importance of Adam Zampa and facing India early on in the tournament. With Stoinis is Logan van Beek, the Dutchman whose 30 runs from a Jason Holder over propelled his team to World Cup qualification.
But we aren’t really a bowling-heavy side. Not at all. Opening the batting are two of the greatest to have played ODI cricket for India. Sourav Ganguly, one of India’s most successful and influential captains, sets things up with his most candid interview, and from Gautam Gambhir – instrumental in India winning two World Cup finals – you always get straight talk. Stories that never cease to amaze you. At No. 3, we have Athar Ali Khan, the Bangladeshi legend, who makes some starling claims about his country’s cricket. And filling the key middle-order slots are two of the greats – Greg Chappell, former Australian captain, and Eoin Morgan, who led England to glory in such dramatic fashion in 2019.
With an abundance of riches in the line-up, we decided to launch the series with Shoaib and close with Ganguly. So watch out for the definitive World Cup and Asia Cup build-up over the next fortnight, as the game’s legends answer every question that you might have.
Candid, forthright, detailed, and no holds barred. Presenting to you the World and Asia Cup series of Backstage With Boria.
Thanks once again to all our sponsors – Ageas Federal Life Insurance company, our presenting partner, and all the powered-by partners – BSV, Wow Momo, and Pebble Smart Watches, our newest partner. Thanks to all these brands for their continued faith in RevSportz.
In other news, we also have G Rajaraman, RevSportz Consulting Editor, in Budapest from today for the World Athletics Championships. The most definitive badminton content, with multiple exclusives, will also be on our platforms. The shooting World Championships from Baku will also be covered in utmost detail. Every sport, every piece of news, on RevSportz.
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