Record sponsorship deal for Indian team

The Indian cricket team has secured a record sponsorship contract for the next three years, officials said on Friday.

The deal with the Sahara Group -- which has interests in airlines and media -- guarantees the Board of Control for Cricket in India 690 million to 720 million rupees over three years, an official of international sports management firm IMG said.

"It's the richest cricket sponsorship ever -- better than the 12 million sterling ($17.01 million) signed between the England team and (British mobile telephone giant) Vodafone over four years," said the official, who did not wish to be identified.

"Our deal is probably worth 230 to 240 million rupees a year (for the board)," he said.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India signed a sponsorship deal last week with IMG but the management group has subsequently sold the sponsorship rights to Sahara for a higher sum. IMG did not disclose how much it would receive from Sahara.

BCCI president A C Muthiah told Reuters on Friday that details of the sponsorship deal would be released at a news conference scheduled for Saturday.

Cigarette-maker ITC had signed a three-year deal with the BCCI last year but pulled out following a government move to ban tobacco sponsorship in sports.

Mail Cricket Editor