| MUMBAI:
While the rejigged IPL calendar is still waiting to savour some government kindness,
broadcast partner Max has already managed to ink quite a few sponsorship deals
for the cash-rich tourney during its second season. While
Vodafone and Airtel Digital TV have been roped in as the presenting sponsors for
the gaming season, Coca-Cola, Hyundai and Havells have stepped in as associate
sponsors. "We
are yet to formally close our deal will Max New York Life; however, the company
has already confirmed to be on the sponsorship board," says Max executive
VP and business head Sneha Rajani. Max
aims to have nine sponsors in toto for the IPL. The
IPL schedule has been under the government scanner for quite sometime now. In
a bid to avoid any clashes with the 2009 election polls, the Union Home Ministry
has asked the tourney organisers to rework on the schedule. When
quizzed about whether a delay in the IPL schedule could hurt the sponsorship deals,
Rajani says, "As long as the current IPL window remains constant, there will
be no problems at all. And as far as delay is concerned, we have been reassured
by Lalit Modi and team that there will be no shifting of the game schedule." | 
