(18 March 2010 4:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Yahoo! India is now the official online partner of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

As part of this agreement, Yahoo will host a separate section on its cricket site providing exclusive CSK content including off-ground coverage and help build user engagement for CSK fan communities through its leading cricket site. Yahoo! will also host a daily trivia contest with prizes and a grand prize where the winner will get a chance to meet their favourite ‘Super Kings’.

Helping drive its relationship with Cricket users with a first of its kind initiative within the online space, Yahoo! will also host a daily cricket talk show - Yorker - inviting cricket enthusiasts to post comments, ask questions and exchange views on ‘special moments’ from all matches in the ongoing season.

The Cricket Season on cricket.yahoo.com has several elements

• Become a fan: Become a fan of as many teams as you wish
  
  
• Cheer for team: Be recognized as the biggest fan of your team by cheering for them at every opportunity
  
  
• Fan Shout: Participate and shout out your feelings on the match action
  
  
• Polls: Follow the match on Yahoo! Cricket and express yourself by taking part in the multiple polls that are launched throughout the match
  
  
• Others: Review, post comments, share articles / photos / videos via various social destinations, send articles / photos / video links via email.

‘Yorker’, a 5-day-a week show on cricket.yahoo.com provides users a platform to post their thoughts and ask questions during live interaction between 4 pm to 5 pm. The host on the main viewing window will moderate all relevant comments; relevant questions picked and responded as well. Cricket experts like Amit Verma and other eminent cricket commentators will jointly host the show and answer queries from fans and cricket aficionados.

Yahoo! India managing editor Prem Panicker said, “As the leading cricket portal, cricket.yahoo.com has always provided innovative and engaging platforms to its consumers. Cricket is a game where every fan carries an opinion. 'Yorker' is a unique way of giving viewers a chance to voice their point of views. Think of ‘Yorker’ as an online Sports Bar, where Cricket will be discussed and consumed with passion. We are also delighted to partner with Chennai Super Kings and provide a platform for fans to interact with their cricketing icons.”

Yahoo! has also signed a 3-year partnership where International Cricket Council (ICC) is the exclusive online destination for all ICC tourneys including the ICC World, Twenty20, ICC Champions Trophy and ICC Cricket World Cup.