In response to the report " News Corp takes financial charge of global rights for ICC cricket " World Sport Nimbus (WSN) has issued the following rejoinder:

"World Sport Nimbus (WSN) continues to and will continue till 2007 to fulfil the responsibilities and functions by virtue of its agreement with GCC (Global Cricket Corporation) in relation to ICC cricket, which include exclusive management of sponsorship sales worldwide, event management, television licensing in specified territories, radio licensing in specified territories, and television production of specified events.

"World Sport Group (plc) and World Sport Nimbus Pte Ltd will not comment on any speculation regarding business restructuring except that neither of these two companies have been or are proposed to be acquired by GCC or Newscorp.

"Further, WSN has already achieved or exceeded its targets with regard to all broadcast licenses for television and radio in all its specified territories, and remains on course for its sponsorship targets. Contrary to a speculative report which suggests that four sponsors have been firmed up for the World Cup, WSN confirms that eight sponsors have already been firmed up for the World Cup and with eight months to go for the World Cup, ongoing negotiations to sign on four more are comfortably progressing.

"The eight sponsors are Pepsi, I.G., Standard Bank, South African Breweries, MTN, Hero Honda, South African Airways and Toyota (SA)."



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