The International Cricket Council (ICC) has joined forces with the Near Foundation to develop an innovative Web3 fan engagement application for the upcoming 2023 Cricket World Cup in India. This initiative is poised to captivate millions of cricket enthusiasts. In a conversation with Cointelegraph, ICC’s Chief Digital Officer, Finn Bradshaw, and Near’s CEO, Chris Donovan, disclosed the particulars of this cutting-edge Web3 mobile application, intended to elevate fan engagement.
The ICC’s inaugural venture into the realm of Web3 commenced with the creation of a non-fungible token (NFT) platform named FanCraze in 2022. FanCraze provided fans with the unique opportunity to own memorable highlights from various ICC tournaments. Bradshaw believes that this served as a foundational step for forthcoming Web3 applications. The app will offer fans the exciting opportunity to participate in prediction games, which will require them to strategize and make selections for matches during the tournament. Points will be awarded to fans based on the accuracy of their choices and the actual match outcomes, contributing to leaderboards and potential awards throughout the event.
While Near operates as a layer 1 blockchain, it boasts a scalable infrastructure that facilitates communication, smart contracts, and transaction capabilities with other blockchain ecosystems. Donovan highlighted that this feature could prove invaluable as the partnership explores new use cases. The collaboration between the ICC and Near is set to continue until December 2025. Additionally, the decision to host the Cricket World Cup in India presents an ideal opportunity to showcase practical applications of blockchain technology.