Gfinity PLC (LON:GFIN) has been selected by cricket broadcaster Willow TV to host The eCricket Challenge, a series that will see cricket players compete in the Cricket 19 video game.
The series, designed and developed by Gfinity, will see some of the biggest names in world cricket compete remotely in five-over matches.
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The pre-recorded shows, hosted at the Gfinity Esports Arena in London in partnership with Betway, will premier in the US and Canada from April 19, with new episodes every Sunday.
Players scheduled to compete in The eCricket Challenge include Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad and Liam Plunkett representing England, Kieron Pollard, Jason Holder, and Andre Fletcher joining from West Indies and Glenn Maxwell playing for Australia.
"The eCricket Challenge is another example of how traditional sport is adapting to the increasing demand for virtual gaming. Watching some of the world's best cricketers relax and play against their peers has created some memorable broadcast moments that fans will love. These shows will bring people closer together and put smiles on faces at a challenging time”, said Gfinity chief executive John Clarke in a statement.
"A key pillar of Gfinity's strategy is to build communities for others and helping organisations reach their key audiences in a virtual world. We are delighted to be partnering with Willow TV and proud to be adding The eCricket Challenge in partnership with Betway to the portfolio of virtual sports and entertainment products", he added.
In late March, Gfinity also secured a deal to host the F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix, a series created to enable fans to watch Formula 1 races virtually.
The firm's shares surged 16.3% to 1.3p in early trading on Friday.
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