Star India bags Indian cricket team's sponsorship rights

Chennai, Dec 9 (IANS) Star India Pvt Ltd were Sunday awarded the sponsorship rights for the Indian cricket team for the period Jan 1, 2014 to March 31, 2017.

The decision was taken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Marketing Committee here Monday and will cover all BCCI, International Cricket Council (ICC) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events during the period.

The rights include Star India to be called the official team sponsor and to display a commercial logo on the clothing of the senior men’s, Under-19 men’s, women’s and the men’s A team.

The tender was picked up by seven prospective bidders. Star India and Sahara India Financial Corporation were in the final fray but the latter’s bid was found to be ineligible.

“Star is the title sponsor for BCCI international and domestic matches for the period October 2013 to March 31, 2014, as well as the holder of the broadcast, internet and mobile rights of cricket in India for the period July 2012 to March 2018. We are pleased to extend our association with them,” BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said in a release.

Star India chief executive Uday Shankar said they are delighted at bagging the sponsorship contract.

“Star is delighted to become the official sponsor of the Indian cricket team. It’s a team of brilliant talent and we are proud to be associated with them. This is further endorsement of Star’s deep commitment to Indian cricket and Indian sports in general.”

Sahara India are the current team sponsors but their contract expires at the end of December.