Chennai, India; London, UK; Washington D.C., May 6, 2025 — Nextwave Multimedia, a subsidiary of Nazara Technologies and the developer behind the popular World Cricket Championship (WCC) mobile game franchise, has signed a new licensing agreement with Winners Alliance, the commercial partner of the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA).
Through this partnership, Nextwave will integrate the names, images, and likenesses of over 500 professional cricketers affiliated with the WCA into its WCC series. The agreement covers current and upcoming titles, including the anticipated release of WCC4 later this year.
Top global stars to feature in WCC franchise
WCC3 already includes notable players such as Kagiso Rabada, Heinrich Klaasen, Devon Conway, Tim Southee, Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Nicholas Pooran, Sunil Narine, Rashid Khan, and David Wiese. WCC4 will further expand the roster to include players from Australia, Canada, Ireland, Zimbabwe, and the United States.
This collaboration enables athletes in the Winners Alliance group licensing program to earn off-field income and enhance their global visibility through a high-engagement platform.
Bringing group licensing to cricket
Tom Moffat, Chief Executive of the WCA, commented:
“It’s great to see Nextwave Multimedia harness the power of professional cricketers as a collective by obtaining a license for their game. Winners Alliance continues to do great work for cricketers by unlocking new revenue streams, boosting their visibility, and protecting them against any unauthorized use of their rights.”
Eric Winston, President of Winners Alliance, emphasized the broader vision:
“Our license with Nextwave Multimedia is a great example of the kinds of long-term, athlete-centric collaborations that Winners Alliance is committed to creating.”
Nextwave and Nazara’s vision for immersive cricket gaming
Nitish Mittersain, Founder & CEO of Nazara Technologies, called the move a major milestone:
“Integrating over 500 of the world’s top cricketers into WCC marks a significant milestone. Our goal has always been to create deeply immersive and authentic sports gaming experiences.”
Since launching in 2011, the World Cricket Championship franchise has recorded over 500 million downloads across six titles. Nazara acquired Nextwave Multimedia in 2024, further strengthening its position as India’s leading listed gaming and esports company.
Expanding commercial rights for players
This licensing deal highlights the growing role of group licensing in cricket, following a model long used in other global sports. It reflects an effort to bring collective bargaining power and commercial opportunity to professional cricketers worldwide.
While WCC is an officially licensed player product through Winners Alliance, it is not affiliated with the ICC or any of its Members unless otherwise specified.
