ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) has reached a multi-year broadcast rights agreement for exclusive coverage of the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) in India. The multi-year deal includes a minimum of 24 T20 matches per season.

The first edition of the SLPL will see seven provisional teams compete for the coveted trophy as well as a qualifier berth to the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) to be held later this year. The SLPL will feature 42 international players participating from seven countries. STAR Cricket, STAR Sports & ESPN will broadcast all the matches live and exclusive in India starting on 11 August 2012.

The agreement also includes live coverage of the SLPL in the territories of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, Nepal, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. These rights expands ESS’ cricket format broadcasts, which already includes T20 leagues from Australia, England and Bangladesh, and the CLT20 and ICC WT20.