MUMBAI: Nimbus Sport, commercial rights holder for the upcoming Afro-Asia Cup cricket tournament, has sold the title and Asia team sponsorship rights to Standard Chartered and Hero Honda respectively. The Africa team sponsorship has been secured by Sahara Computers, the infotech division of the Sahara Group.
With the title sponsor being Standard Chartered, the Cup has been rechristened, ‘The Standard Chartered Afro Asia Cup 2005’.
The Afro-Asia Cup is being jointly organised by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the Africa Cricket Association (ACA) with the inaugural edition in South Africa being played from 17-21 August. The 2006 tournament will be in Asia and the 2007 tournament will be in Africa. All three Afro-Asia Cups will consist of three One Day Internationals each played as day-night games between Asia and Africa, with the teams being drawn from the best players of the respective continents. The ICC has granted official ODI status to all matches.
Nimbus Sport International CEO Digvijay Singh said, “We are delighted to welcome Standard Chartered Bank to the Afro Asia Cup sponsor family. As a globally respected international bank that has strong presence in Africa and Asia, Stan Chart is an ideal partner. With this event appealing to audiences from seven cricketing nations and with the global broadcast plan on TV as well as the Internet, we are looking forward to the Standard Chartered Afro Asia Cup 2005 being the first of a great series of events.”
The lead-up to the tournament has been marred, however, by the pullout of two key members of the Asian squad - India's Mr Dependable Rahul Dravid and Sri Lanka's master blaster Sanath Jayasuria.
Nimbus paid $ 12 million to the Asian Cricket Council to secure commercial rights to the Afro-Asia Cup cricket for the next three years and says it plans to introduce several television licensing innovations in this and subsequent tournaments.
Broadcasters of the Tournament:
India: Zee TV and Zee Sports
Pakistan: ARY Digital
Sri Lanka: Rupavahini
Bangladesh: Bangladesh Television
Middle East: ARY Digital
African Continent: Supersport
UK: Zee International
USA: Zee International
Nimbus Sport International will broadcast the tournament over broadband internet on www.willow.tv.
