- Revenue will be shared between Cricket Australia and players’ association
- CA is latest cricket organisation to enter the metaverse
- Organisation claims the Polygon blockchain is more energy efficient
Cricket Australia (CA) is to launch an official collection of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that will allow fans to own digital assets representing some of the most memorable moments in the country’s cricketing history.
The governing body has partnered with the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) and Singapore-based Rario to create NFTs that feature feats such as Steve Waugh’s Ashes hundred at the SCG in 2003, Peter Siddle’s hat-trick in 2010 and Ellyse Perry’s double hundred in 2017.
These NFTs will be available in random ‘packs’ and can be traded on a marketplace, allowing fans to assemble their collection. All revenues will be shared between CA and current and former players.
CA said it had noted the activities of other sports, most notably the National Basketball Association (NBA) and its Top Shot platform, and the potential revenues. In an interview with SportsPro last year, the organisation’s general manager of technology Mike Osborn said NFTs were an area it was keeping a keen eye on.
Perhaps pre-empting some criticism about the energy consumption of some crypto technologies, CA also said that its use of the Polygon blockchain means its NFT efforts are more carbon efficient than other comparable initiatives.
“We are excited to step into the metaverse with our partners Rario, BlockTrust and the Australian Cricketers’ Association for this historic deal, which will open up huge opportunities for innovation and fan engagement,” said CA chief executive Nick Hockley.
“The game’s deep connection with its past, the passion of our fans and the appeal of Australian cricketers to a global audience, means the incorporation of NFTs is another way that fans across the world can engage and be part of the sport.
“This is just the start and I have no doubt we will see enormous benefit for fans, players and the sport itself as we build this exciting partnership.”
NFTs are becoming increasingly common in cricket, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) partnering with FanCraze to create ‘Cricto’ tokens. Rario itself has partnerships with the Carribbean Premier League (CPL) and Lanka Premier League Twenty20 competitions.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Australian cricket, and this has been reflected in the cooperative spirit that the ACA and Cricket Australia have partnered with Rario,” said Todd Greenberg, chief executive of the ACA.
“Once you begin to learn about NFTs you soon understand the engagement possibilities between past and present players with fans are huge. We all look forward to bringing this programme to life in the coming months with new and innovative concepts.”
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