MUMBAI: While much ink and monies have been spent on the senior international cricket, the game played on the junior and the national level isn't as popular. But seems like the trend is changing.

While MAX is going all out to promote ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, Cricketnext.com has signed as the official Internet partner for the event to be held in Bangladesh, from 15 February 2004.

The cricket portal has been the official Internet partner for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 in South Africa. The Walchand CricketNext.com Ltd will be construct, maintain and host the official website www.U19CricketWorldCup.com, says a company release.

Says Walchand Cricketnext.com, co-founder and managing editor Sanjay Jha, “With India being serious contenders for the Junior World Cup, the website offers sponsors and advertisers with a strong marketing and promotional platform. The youth will be a critical mass segment.”

“Online cricket will be huge in the coming months with the Junior World Cup being immediately followed by the awesome India-Pakistan series” added Jha.

According to the release, the website will have exhaustive and user-friendly features and will serve as the one-stop halt for surfers around the world who are interested in knowing about the on-field and off-field happenings during the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup.says the release.

Says Jha, “I am delighted that CricketNext.com has received this prestigious status of becoming the Official Internet Partner for the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup. Cricket fanatics around the globe will find absolutely everything they are looking for, including live ball-by-ball updates, latest news stories, features and interviews.”

CricketNext also owns a sports and entertainment management firm, which handles celebrities, star players, creates events and offers customized client solutions to brands and corporate, 9 Yards.