Cricket

Vodafone agrees to sponsor IPL - 8 May 08

Mobile network operator, Vodafone Essar, has agreed a five-year sponsorship deal with the Indian Premier League to become the IPL’s Official Telecom Partner and Official Ground Sponsor until 2013.

Cricket is Australia's number one TV sport, says poll - 8 May 08

Cricket is the most-watched sport on television in Australia, according to a poll by Melbourne-based market research company, Roy Morgan.

Lord's to consider hosting neutral Test Matches - 7 May 08

Marylebone Cricket Club is considering hosting neutral Test matches at Lords to fund its £200 million ground-redevelopment project.

Fox Sports and Nine secure ICC rights - 6 May 08

Australian broadcasters, Fox Sports and the Nine Network, agreed a four year deal with ESPN STAR Sports for TV rights for International Cricket Council cricket events from 2008 until 2011.

ICC appoints licensing partner - 1 May 08

The International Cricket Council has appointed Licensing in Motion as its official licensing and merchandising partner in an eight year deal until 2015.

ECB wants four Twenty20 events - 28 Apr 08

The England and Wales Cricket Board is set to launch four new Twenty20 tournaments.

Cricket Ireland wins new sponsor - 28 Apr 08

Cricket Ireland agreed a deal with RSA to sponsor for the country's national teams.

ECB close to multi-million dollar deal - 25 Apr 08

The England Cricket Board is set to sign agreements with the West Indies Cricket Board and American billionaire Sir Allen Stanford to create two new multi-million dollar international Twenty20 competitions.

IPL opener exceeds TV expectations - 23 Apr 08

The opening match of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 cricket tournament attracted twice as many Indian television viewers as expected.

Media agencies boycott coverage of IPL - 21 Apr 08

Media agencies around the world stuck to their threat to boycott coverage of Twenty20 cricket’s Indian Premier League, which got underway last Friday.

Live Current Media wins BCCI and IPL website rights - 18 Apr 08

Canadian new media company Live Current Media Inc acquired the exclusive online rights for the Board of Control for Cricket in India and cricket’s Indian Premier League in a ten-year deal worth $50 million.

England likely to play winner-takes-all $20m Twenty20 match - 18 Apr 08

It is ‘very likely’ that the England cricket team will take part in a winner-takes-all $20 million Twenty20 match against a West Indies All-Star XI, according to Giles Clarke, chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

ICC extends sponsorship deal - 17 Apr 08

Indian telecoms company, Reliance Communications, and the International Cricket Council have extended their eight year partnership for one year until 2015.

MasterCard to sponsor IPL team - 17 Apr 08

Credit card major, MasterCard, has agreed to sponsor Indian Premier League team, the Mumbai Indians.

FOX Sports to show Australian test matches - 16 Apr 08

Australian sports network, FOX Sports, agreed a deal with Indian sports marketing agency, Nimbus Sport International, for the rights to show exclusive live coverage of Australia’s four Test matches during their tour of India in October 2008.

$20 million for ECB tour match - 15 Apr 08

Texan billionaire, Allen Stanford, is set to offer the England and Wales Cricket Board $20 million for a one-off Twenty20 match against a West Indies all-star side during England’s tour early next year.

Willow TV wins IPL rights - 9 Apr 08

Internet streaming broadcaster, Willow TV, has acquired the television, radio, broadband and Internet rights for the Indian Premier League (IPL) in North America.

ECB rules England players out of IPL - 8 Apr 08

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) ruled out the possibility of any centrally contracted player taking part in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for at least the next two seasons.

Lorgat looks set for ICC role - 3 Apr 08

South Africa’s Haroon Lorgat has emerged as the favourite to succeed current International Cricket Council chief executive, Malcolm Speed.

ADD secures IPL TV rights - 31 Mar 08

Arab Digital Distribution acquired the exclusive TV rights for the DFL Indian Premier League in the Middle East and North Africa in a ten-year deal.

BBC expected to bid for test cricket rights - 27 Mar 08

The BBC is planning to bid for at least some rights for live English test match cricket when the auction opens for the next four-year contract, likely to be next month.

Nimbus launches cricket web portal - 26 Mar 08

Indian media and entertainment company, Nimbus Communications, is set to launch a new cricket web portal to offer streaming of live matches.

Pepsi to sponsor IPL - 18 Mar 08

Soft drink manufacturer, Pepsi, agreed $12.5 million sponsorship deal with the Indian Premier League to become the official beverage of the IPL for the next five years.

ICC names preferred chief executive - 18 Mar 08

Imtiaz Patel, the chief executive of South African pay-television broadcaster SuperSport, has been selected as the preferred candidate to take over as the chief executive of the International Cricket Council.

Hero Honda backs Delhi cricket franchise - 17 Mar 08

GMR Sports, which owns the Indian Premier League’s Delhi Daredevils franchise has named Hero Honda as the main sponsor of the team along with Kingfisher as the associate sponsor.

ICL team secures sponsor - 14 Mar 08

Indian real estate developer, Pioneer Urban, has agreed to sponsor the Indian Cricket League’s Delhi team for an undisclosed sum.

Hero Honda extends sponsorship deal with IPL - 10 Mar 08

Motorcycle company, Hero Honda extended its agreement with the Board of Cricket Control in India to co-sponsor the Indian Premier League from three to five years. The deal is now worth $22.5 million.

Edelweiss wins ICL naming rights - 6 Mar 08

Financial services company Edelweiss Capital agreed title sponsorship deal with the Indian Cricket League.

ESPN STAR and Entriq continue roll-out - 5 Mar 08

ESPN STAR Sports and digital media company Entriq will roll out more ‘live and on-demand programming’ this spring, having launched a broadband video service dedicated to offering sports via both programming channels.

SET strikes IPL presenting sponsor deal - 5 Mar 08

Sony Entertainment Television (SET) has signed Vodafone as the presenting broadcast sponsor for the DLF Indian Premier League (IPL) in a deal worth around Rs 25-30 crore ($6.2m-$7.5m).

Ten Sports retains rights for West Indies Cricket - 29 Feb 08

Dubai-based broadcaster, Ten Sports, retained the global media rights for West Indies cricket, excluding the UK, in a four-year, from 2008 and 2012, deal with the West Indies Cricket Board.

Lord's looks to secure test future - 28 Feb 08

Lord's, the biggest cricket ground in England, announced plans for a £200 million redevelopment scheme in a bid to secure its two Test matches each year.

Setanta Sports wins IPL rights - 26 Feb 08

Setanta Sports acquired the UK TV rights for the Indian Premier League's Twenty20 cricket competition in a five year deal with the IPL.

ECB appoints Locker Room Sports for digital marketing - 22 Feb 08

The ECB appointed Locker Room Sports, to handle digital communications for its soon to be re-launched fans services and membership programme.

New format for Cricket World Cup? - 21 Feb 08

The ICC Chief Executives' Committee will recommend that the ICC Board approve a 14-team format for the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

Sony to be taken to court over IPL demands - 20 Feb 08

Four minority domestic investors in Sony Entertainment India, have taken the company to court over demands on them for capital to finance SET's commitments to the upcoming Indian Premier League tournament.

Indian Premier League sells title sponsorship rights - 14 Feb 08

Real estate developer DLF acquired the title sponsorship rights for the Indian Premier League's Twenty20 Cup in a five-year, Rs 200 crore deal with the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Pepsi set for Indian Premier League title sponsorship - 13 Feb 08

Pepsi is reported to be the sole bidder in the race for the title sponsorship rights for the Indian Premier League cricket tournament.

ICC signs Emirates partnership deal - 12 Feb 08

Dubai-based international airline, Emirates, agreed a seven year sponsorship deal with the International Cricket Council.

Australia's network Ten wins IPL Rights - 11 Feb 08

Australian commercial broadcaster Ten Network acquired the live television rights for all the Twenty20 cricket matches in a five-year deal with the Indian Premier League. Ten is believed to have paid between $10 million and $15 million for the rights.

ICC names official travel and tours licensee - 5 Feb 08

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed Gullivers Sports Travel, trading under the business name 'Cricket Logistics', to act as its exclusive licensee of official travel and tours services for ICC events.

Funding boost for English cricket - 4 Feb 08

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is to inject £30 million into the club and county game to improve facilities and develop the grassroots.

Marston's to sponsor Twenty20 Cup - 30 Jan 08

UK brewer Marston's agreed a two-year deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board to become an official partner of the Twenty20 Cup.

BCCI franchise bids exceed expectations - 25 Jan 08

The Board of Control for Cricket in India sold the rights to control the eight Twenty20 Premier League teams for a combined total of over $700 million. 

Indian cricket's IPL franchises to be announced - 24 Jan 08

The Indian Cricket Board, the BCCI, will announce the owners of the eight IPL franchises later today.

Bidding opens for IPL sponsorship rights - 18 Jan 08

The Board of Control for Cricket in India invited tenders for the title sponsorship rights for the Indian Premier League's inaugural tournament in April.

Sony-WSG bag global TV Rights For India Premier League - 15 Jan 08

World Sport Group and Sony acquired the global TV rights for the Indian Premier League (IPL) in a 10-year deal worth $1.026 billion.

Final Four bid for Indian Premier League Rights - 14 Jan 08

Bidding for the TV rights for cricket's inaugural Indian Premier League will close at noon today with four bidders set to fight it out for the rights.

ESPN STAR Sports signs mobile rights deal - 4 Jan 08

Asian broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports has acquired the mobile rights for India's ongoing tour to Australia from Cricket Australia.

Icon continues long association with cricket - 3 Jan 08

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and essentially reappointed Icon as the exclusive provider of signage and arena dressing services to the ECB in a deal covering the 2009 Ashes Series.

ESPN Star Sports launches ICC tender - 18 Dec 07

Pan-Asian pay-broadcaster ESPN-STAR Sports invited interested parties to tender for the TV rights to all International Cricket Council (ICC) events outside of India from 2008 to 2011.

ESS puts ICC broadcast rights up for tender - 14 Dec 07

ESPN STAR Sports (ESS), the ICC’s global broadcast and production partner, is inviting tenders for the TV broadcast rights for high-profile ICC events from 2008 to 2011.

Belfast to host inaugural ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier - 14 Dec 07

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has scheduled the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in Belfast at the start of August between the six ODI Associate teams, Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, the Netherlands and Scotland.

Cricket looks to an Olympic future - 12 Dec 07

The International Cricket Council earned "provisional recognition" from the International Olympic Committee, the first step on the road to possible inclusion in the Olympic programme.

LG consider return to cricket sponsorship - 11 Dec 07

LG Electronics said it is considering a return to cricket sponsorship after having pulled out of the sport earlier this year.

MCC seeks Test guarantees to fund stadium upgrade - 5 Dec 07

Lord's Cricket Ground in London is seeking a guarantee that Test cricket will continue to be played at ‘the home of cricket’ in order to raise £20 million from sales of 75-year debenture seats.

Zee sells ICL's rights for $10 million - 4 Dec 07

The Zee Group sold the international TV rights for its Indian Cricket League (ICL) to three international broadcasters in deals worth a reported $10 million.

IPL TV rights to cost a minimum of $59 million - 28 Nov 07

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) fixed a minimum price for the TV rights for its new Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament of $59 million.

Cricinfo launches mobile content service - 21 Nov 07

Cricinfo has become the world’s first dedicated cricket website to enter the free-to-access mobile content sector with the launch of Cricinfo MobiCast, a live ball-by-ball update and score card application.

ESPN, Nimbus and Sony to bid for IPL TV rights - 20 Nov 07

ESPN, Nimbus and Sony have all expressed interest in acquiring the rights for Indian cricket’s Twenty20 Indian Premier League.

PCB signs sponsorship with ABN Amro Bank - 12 Nov 07

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has signed a sponsorship deal worth Rs28 million for domestic cricket with ABN Amro Bank.

Australian media threatens cricket boycott - 8 Nov 07

Australian media companies are threatening to boycott the international cricket season in a row with Cricket Australia over media access.

MCC appoints Pitch PR for debenture scheme - 6 Nov 07

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the storied English cricket club, has appointed Pitch PR to undertake a PR campaign promoting its new Grand Stand Debenture scheme at Lord’s cricket ground, the home of MCC.

Nimbus forced to sell revenue rights to Doordarshan - 5 Nov 07

Nimbus was forced to sell its rights as official ‘revenue-management company’ (RMC) for cricket’s India-Pakistan series, including both one-days and the Test matches, to Indian public-service broadcaster Doordarshan.

IMG to distribute Stanford 20/20 - 26 Oct 07

IMG has reached a global distribution agreement for broadcasts of the Stanford 20/20 tournament, the growing Caribbean cricket competition.

Ten Sports wins South Africa, Zimbabwe cricket rights - 26 Oct 07

Ten Sports acquired the rights for all international cricket matches played in South Africa and Zimbabwe for markets in Asia, including India and Pakistan, and the Middle East.

Aussie cricket star joins Murdoch agency - 25 Oct 07

Percept Talent Management (PTM), the recently launched Indian talent agency part-owned by Lachlan Murdoch, has signed up Australian cricket all-rounder, Michael Clarke as its first non-Indian star.

Dubai Sports City to host biannual cricket internationals - 22 Oct 07

The Dubai Sports City plans to host a tournament for the 'A' teams of all Test-playing nations twice a year.

Nimbus contests BCCI Twenty20 rights - 8 Oct 07

Sports management firm Nimbus is reportedly questioning the right of the Board of Control for Cricket in India [BBCI] to sell the broadcast inventory to its new Twenty20 competition on the open market.

Lancashire CC win new sponsorship deal - 1 Oct 07

Daniel Thwaites Brewery agreed a two-year sponsorship deal with Lancashire County Cricket Club, which will see Thwaites become Lancashire's official club sponsor for the next two seasons.

Nimbus Sport signs up Fox Sports for India v Australia ODI series - 28 Sep 07

Nimbus Sport International agreed a deal with Fox Sports Australia to provide exclusive live coverage of the seven ODIs and one Twenty20 match to be played during Australia’s upcoming tour of India.

Future Group signs record broadcast sponsorship - 28 Sep 07

Indian retail giant, Future Group, has signed a three-year broadcast sponsorship contract with Neo Sports Broadcast, which runs the Neo Sports and Neo Sports Plus channels.

T-20 World Cup win buoys Neo Sports - 25 Sep 07

Neo Sports, the Indian cricket channel owned by Nimbus Sports, has sold 65 per cent of its advertising inventory for the upcoming India-Australia series, starting September 29, buoyed by India’s success in the Twenty20 World Cup.

BCCI set to launch Twenty20 tournament too - 13 Sep 07

Media firm Zee Telefilms’ controversial breakaway Indian Cricket League is set for major competition after the sport’s governing body in India confirmed it too was planning to launch a Twenty20 tournament.

ESPN STAR awards UK rights to Twenty20 World Cup - 11 Sep 07

Asian sports broadcaster, ESPN STAR Sports, has signed broadcast rights partnerships for the United Kingdom and Ireland for the first edition of the ICC World Twenty20.

Emirates sponsor twenty20 world cup - 10 Sep 07

Emirates airline have agreed a deal to become a partner of the ICC World Twenty20 Cup, which begins in South Africa this week.

ESPN STAR Sports renews TV deal with Cricket Australia - 6 Sep 07

ESPN STAR Sports agreed a new four-year contract for the exclusive rights to broadcast Cricket Australia’s domestic and home international matches across various platforms including TV, internet, mobile and radio covering the entire Asian region.

ECB clinch big new Asian cricket TV deal - 31 Aug 07

Asian sports broadcaster ESPN Star Sports has agreed a new five-year year rights deal with the England cricket governing body the ECB.

ICC bowl up Twenty20 sponsors - 30 Aug 07

Cricket's world governing body has confirmed the commercial partners for its inaugural ICC World Twenty20 tournament, set to take place in South Africa next month.

WORLD SPORTS GROUP WINS INDIAN CRICKET RIGHTS - 29 Aug 07

Singapore-based World Sports Group (WSG) has won the sponsorship rights to part of international cricket in India after bidding $42 million for the next three years.

ICL claims important legal win over BCCI - 28 Aug 07

The controversial new Indian Cricket League (ICL) has won an important legal victory ahead of its launch.

REBEL CRICKET LEAGUE GATHERS PACE - 21 Aug 07

The commercial clout of the new Indian Cricket League has been boosted after it unveiled a host of big name stars committing to the controversial Twenty20 league.

PEPSICO LINED UP AS ICC GLOBAL SPONSOR - 20 Aug 07

PepsiCo India is set to sign as one of four global sponsors for the International Cricket Council (ICC), according to press sources in India.

GLOBAL COVERAGE FOR ICC WORLD TWENTY20 - 17 Aug 07

ESPN STAR Sports has revealed its broadcast rights partnerships for the first edition of the ICC World Twenty20 scheduled to take place in September 2007 in South Africa.

INDIAN MARKETING FORUM ATTRACTS INDUSTRY STARS - 16 Aug 07

Brandscore, a sports marketing forum organised in India by ESPN-STAR Sports and media agency Mindshare, will be held in Mumbai, India this Friday.

STARS MAY BE LURED TO CRICKET BREAKAWAY - 25 Jul 07

Some of cricket’s biggest names could play in the controversial new multi-million-dollar breakaway Twenty20 tournament.

BPS&S TO HANDLE GAMING COMPANY CAMPAIGN - 17 Jul 07

Bell Pottinger Sport & Sponsorship (BPS&S), part of Chime Communications plc, has been appointed by 6up, a new interactive cricket gambling company, to handle the company's public relations and sponsorship as it launches in the UK market.

PROFITS FROM ICC CWC 2007 WILL ELIMINATE WICB DEFICIT - 11 Jul 07

ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Inc. said that thanks to hosting the ninth ICC Cricket World Cup the current West Indies Cricket Board financial deficit would be eliminated.

WEST INDIES CRICKET RECEIVE $100 MILLION INVESTMENT - 5 Jul 07

Texan Businessman, Alan Stanford will invest $100 million (£46.9 million) in West Indies cricket over the next three years.

COCKSPUR RUM BECOMES OFFICIAL SPIRIT OF ENGLISH TEST MATCH GROUNDS - 2 Jul 07

Cockspur Rum from Barbados agreed a three-year deal to become the “Official Spirit of English Test Match Grounds.”

PAKISTAN CRICKET TO FUND UPGRADES - 18 Jun 07

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has set an annual budget of around $40 million to raise the standards of its domestic and international cricket teams.

QATAR AIRWAYS EXTENDS SPONSORSHIP OF ENGLISH TEST MATCH GROUNDS - 13 Jun 07

Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, extended its Official Airline status with the English Test Match Grounds in a deal brokered by Frontiers Group.

ESPN ACQUIRES CRICINFO FROM THE WISDEN GROUP - 11 Jun 07

ESPN has expanded its global on-line business through the acquisition of Cricinfo, the world’s largest cricket website, in a deal with The Wisden Group.

DUBAI SPORTS CITY UNVEILS INTERNATIONAL EVENTS STRATEGY - 6 Jun 07

Dubai Sports City unveiled its strategy to bring a share of the global sports business market to the UAE.

ESPN TAKES AFRO-ASIA SERIES, NIMBUS STEPS IN FOR INDIA V SOUTH AFRICA - 1 Jun 07

ESPN-Star Sports acquired the broadcast rights for cricket’s Afro-Asia Cup after Nimbus pullled out of the deal. Nimbus meanwhile acquired the rights for the India-South Africa ODI series.

TV PULLS OUT OF CRICKET’S AFRO-ASIA CUP - 31 May 07

Cricket’s Afro-Asia Cup series is reported to be under threat after the broadcast rights holder Nimbus Sports pulled out.

CRICKET IS NUMBER ONE IN AUSTRALIA - 10 May 07

Cricket heads the table of sports that Australians are most interested in, according to sports research consultants Sweeney Sports.

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT IN TALKS WITH CRICKET AUSTRALIA OVER ZIMBABWE TOUR - 8 May 07

Australia could avoid paying compensation to the Zimbabwe Cricket Union if the Australian federal government bans the Australian team from touring there later this year.

ICC’S SPEED COULD FACE NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION - 30 Apr 07

The International Cricket Council could be set for a revolt by one of its most powerful members after a leading India executive blasted the running of cricket’s world governing body – and refused to rule out calling a vote of no-confidence in its chief Malcolm Speed.

BCCI STORM OVER SPONSOR INVOLVEMENT CLAIM - 30 Apr 07

A new controversy in Indian cricket has been ignited after the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suggested sponsors were ‘trying to influence team selection’.