MUMBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has named sports information provider Opta as its official data provider for the next two years.

It means that Opta will receive exclusive access to the stadia for all major ICC events as well as the exclusive distribution rights for live data.

Opta will also supply live detailed ball-by-ball data, squad statistics and scorecards to all ICC media platforms, ICC official partners, third parties and global media.

The presence of Opta?s statisticians at venue to score the matches of ICC events will ensure that the scoring services they offer are the fastest, accurate and most comprehensive.

ICC GM commercial Campbell Jamieson said, "Opta has a proven record in the sports industry and we are delighted to have them as our data provider for the next two years."

"Besides next month?s ICC Champions Trophy, the ICC will be staging the ICC World Twenty20 and the ICC Cricket World Cup, along with the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup, ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier and the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier over the next two years," he added.

"As such, it is imperative that we to have a world class data provider who can efficiently supply accurate statistics that, in turn, can help the official partners, media and other third parties in the delivery of their professional responsibilities," he further stated.

Opta?s CEO Aidan Cooney said, "Opta has a proven track record in delivering fast, detailed and accurate cricket data and we are delighted to become the official data provider of the ICC."

"This partnership will enable some of cricket?s most prestigious tournaments to benefit from Opta data and we look forward to working with the ICC, their partners and the global cricket media over the next two years," he concluded.

MUMBAI: Indian captain MS Dhoni has topped Forbes list of highest earning cricketers with an estimated $26.5 million income in 2011, which is way ahead of batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar?s earnings of $18.6 million.

Dhoni, under whose captainship India won the 2011 Cricket World Cup, earned a whopping $23 million from nearly 25 brands that he endorses. Only a small portion of his earning, about $3.5 million, came from IPL and central contracts.
 
Tendulkar, who earned a total $16.5 million from endorsements, saw his earning?s shrink due to refusal to endorse a liquor brand and injuries which kept him out of a number of IPL matches and missing out completely on the Champions League games.

In a list dominated by Indians, the next three spots in the list are held by Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli and Virendra Sehwag who earned $7.3 million, $7.1 million and $6.9 million respectively.

The next four spots in the list are held by Australian cricketers with Shane Watson leading the pack at the sixth spot earning $5.9 million last year.
 
Watson is followed by Australian captain Michael Clarke ($4.9 million), Brett Lee ($4.8 million) and Ricky Ponting ($4.1 million), boosted by central contracts and endorsement deals besides healthy income from IPL and Big Bash League.

At the 10th spot is out of favour Yusuf Pathan with earnings of $3.7 million with cricket pay itself contributing $3.3 million.