MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN) has pocketed the exclusive broadcasting rights to the much-anticipated Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

The league that has a fusillade of cricket stars such as Kieron Pollard, Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Bravo, will commence on 4 August 2017 and conclude on 9 September 2017.

Besides India, the league will be telecast live in the Indian sub-continent including countries such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Maldives.

Sony Pictures Network, that comprises India’s premier sports channels, has also acquired the digital rights for the tournament and will live stream the matches in Afghanistan over and above these six countries on its digital platform, SonyLiv.

The tournament will be held across six scenic venues in the Caribbean and for the second time the fixtures will be played in Lauderhill, Florida, USA. This year the teams will include the likes of Jamaica Tallawahs, Trinbago Knight Riders, Tridents – Pride of Barbados, Guyana Amazon Warriors, St. Lucia Stars and St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots, all battling it out in an initial group stage format before progressing to the knock out matches.

The opening match of the league will see St. Lucia Stars take on the Trinbago Knight Riders to be held at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium (named after the St. Lucia Stars captain) on 4th August at 6:30 a.m.only on SONY ESPN. The game that day will see the likes of Brendon McCullum, Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo, Shane Watson and Daren Sammy himself battle it out at the stadium. The remaining matches will be televised on SONY SIX & SONY SIX HD.

Sony Pictures Networks India president - distribution and sports business Rajesh Kaul said, "At SPN, it is our constant endeavour to showcase the finest cricketing action. The T20 format has always been favoured by cricket enthusiasts and we are thrilled to broadcast the CPL for the fifth successive year. This year, the CPL matches will be broadcast in six different countries and be live streamed on our digital platform, SonyLIV.”

CPL chief operations officer Pete Russell said, "We are delighted to continue our broadcast partnership with Sony Pictures Sports Network. Across the Indian subcontinent, there are huge supporters of CPL who have a keen interest in this league.”