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I have an amazing concept for an application that has the potential to be huge. It would be wise for you to provide funding at the beginning stages, as this opportunity may not last. In fact, just by reading this, you are already missing out. Act quickly and invest now.

Ideally, this would have happened earlier. I had requested funds for my app in the past because if you had any foresight, you would have immediately invested in it when I mentioned its potential for success, which has proven to be true. To be frank, I am now hesitant about accepting your money. Please refrain from providing funding for my app. I am extremely frustrated with you and have resorted to physically damaging the app in order to prevent your investment. I hope you are satisfied with the consequences of your actions.

The investor presentation may benefit from some fine-tuning. However, the app is revolutionary. It functions similarly to Shazam, but for cricket: simply aim your phone at a televised match and the app will provide immediate information on the game, players, teams, promoted brands, and your level of enjoyment.

I have created an app called CrickFlick, CricSwipe, or CrickBait, with the purpose of addressing the main drawback of franchise cricket’s rapid growth: its lack of distinctiveness as a product. The constant repetition of the same noises, colors, and sounds make it seem like a monotonous and unexciting sporting event.

How often have you turned on your screen and seen a player in a bright nylon shirt executing a skillful leg-side shot while the commentator exclaims “wow,” and realized your love for cricket? It is deeply ingrained in my emotions and cultural identity. I crave it. But who is that player? Is it Wayne Parnell?

Point&Crick utilizes face recognition and real-time data to provide users with essential statistics and memes. It also recommends which team to support, guides users on how to feel, and suggests product purchases to enhance those emotions. This is the ultimate goal – to have everything accessible on your phone, pointed at a screen, while a voice announces Canadian Hyper-Smash, Adam Rossington, LG fridge freezers, alienation, and bang – all while solving the game of cricket.

The app was actually created as a cover story in case I needed to engage in casual conversation with influential figures in the sports media world. I attended the elaborate ICC Cricket Matters conference in Mumbai so you wouldn’t have to. It was exactly as you would imagine, and even a bit confusing.

The conference contained a wealth of compelling material. It was led by knowledgeable individuals who hold significant influence over the future direction of cricket, as well as other sports that you enjoy. These next crucial years will see changes in the way these sports are managed, consumed, and potentially altered.

Feigning as a dynamic tech innovator felt more fitting for the setting, rather than being a mundane sportswriter. I had imagined my fellow attendees eagerly nodding as I presented my app, perhaps even creating a buzz and sparking excitement. However, in reality, no one approached me with any inquiries. Nonetheless, the purpose of attending was to observe and eavesdrop on the influential figures in their natural environment.

I was curious about the significance of Brands Love Fans in the Stands and Cricket Matters to Meta and Innovation at Play: Part 1 – The ICC NIUM Hackathon. I wanted to gain insight into the concept of viewership, the online analysis of sports, and the perceived challenges to value and established systems, which often occur outside of our immediate surroundings.

The truth about this matter is often not disclosed. The English sports industry is divided between local issues and money-driven plans that refuse to acknowledge their true intentions, instead using vague language about tradition and consideration for fans and the sporting community. We see Gianni Infantino portraying himself as a savior of football. There is also an attempt to cover up ethical and equality issues. As a result, major changes in the foundation of sports are made behind closed doors and with incomplete planning, in order to lessen potential negative reactions.

However, this does not apply to the rainmakers who are responsible for managing the transformation of sports into a streaming product. Their focus is on growth and expanding into new markets.

We entered a spacious, wood-paneled room on the ninth floor of a luxurious Mumbai hotel. The room was adorned with captivating blue lights, sparkling chandeliers, and a stage at the front for the esteemed panelists. Attendees and servers busily attended to tables filled with delegates, but there was a noticeable feeling of urgency in the air. This room will greatly impact your sport and its strict rules.

Brands Love Fans featured change-makers from Mastercard, Coca-Cola and DP World. They filed out to a blast of I’m So Excited by the Pointer Sisters, which was a little jarring as it only got to the words “I want to love you, feel you, wrap myself around you” before the music cut and everyone sat down.

Who are these individuals? They are the commercial partners of the ICC, as well as partners of global sports. They have a significant influence on the games that will be played and their overall appearance. While meetings, reports, and reviews may be important, ultimately money holds the most weight in this matter.

What is their ultimate goal? Increased exposure. Constantly seeking new markets. Their focus is on expanding the user experience to fit a six-inch screen, which is the most commonly used device. They desire less one-on-one cricket matches and more large-scale ICC events, as well as more franchise opportunities. They strive for a greater presence in the fundamental structure, aiming not just for a logo on the screen, but for active “engagement” and the ability to fully immerse oneself in their passion.

This is the place where the digital revolution’s potential in sports will be determined, as choices about which elements to discard and which ones to highlight are ultimately affected. We can focus on tradition, principles, and athletic aspects. The resulting physical product will be molded by these influences.

There were discussions about superior quality dialogue, discussions about fully synchronized customer interactions, and discussions about the change in this year’s World Cup from traditional viewing to a mix of traditional and non-traditional methods. One person stated, “Watching cricket leads to extremely enthusiastic viewers.” Another person stated, “There are no separate areas anymore, just overlapping aspects.” And yet another person stated, “We don’t want to tackle an overwhelming task.” The World Cup trophy was present, listening to all of this. However, there were also moments that caught you off guard.

In general, people believe that there will be rapid changes in all aspects. The impact of technology on various industries will also affect sports, altering the traditional understanding of what constitutes a sport. Over the next three to four years, the changes in how we engage with and perceive sports will be more significant than those in the past 50 years. This includes how we consume it and who we consider to be a fan.

Oh wow. They said it out loud. That sense of irreversible change is not in your head. And these are the people charged with making it happen.

A representative from Mastercard provided a powerful explanation for the company’s involvement in sports, stating that when they approach a bank for assets, the bank asks what assets they have to offer. This is where sports come into play, as they are considered a valuable asset for banks and a key passion point for untapped markets.

There was discussion about diversity, and even more so an understanding of the reasons behind this discussion. “Diversity, equality, and uncertainty are significant factors for Gen Z and millennials. This is why companies must incorporate elements to address these issues.” Wait, did you genuinely mean that?

The best part was in effect an explanation of why India projects cricket as it does. Indian politics wants these big global brands to invest and cricket is the driver, out there directly powering that consumer economy. “There is massive unlock still to be done,” the Coke guy said contentedly. And India is a happy, hungry, confident country in so many ways. Consumption and brand worship is an element of that confidence. Cricket has become an extension of both things.

During the break, there was a conversation about how cricket is often seen as a sport exclusive to South Asia, and some brand representatives expressed frustration that England and Australia may not be contributing enough. Casual discussion revealed that the Hundred tournament is not taken seriously among this group.

During lunchtime, it was the Meta team’s turn to take the stage and greet the audience with high-fives and friendly hellos. They were there to discuss the topic of “Meta’s collaboration with influencers and the ICC for the Cricket World Cup”. The team discussed the impressive number of “three billion monthly active users” and emphasized the importance of moving away from one-dimensional consumption towards a more connected app experience.

It became difficult to ignore the growing feeling that these individuals may be the ones who will provide funding for CrickZam, not because it’s groundbreaking (which it is), but because no one truly knows what the future holds for sports and human relationships. It’s a world of possibilities and uncharted territory, waiting to be seized.

Source: theguardian.com