Star India Private Limited was awarded the team sponsorship rights of the Indian team for a period of three years on Monday after Sahara’s bid was declared ineligible by the BCCI here.
“Star India Pvt Ltd have been awarded the Team Sponsorship Rights covering BCCI Events, ICC Events and ACC Events, for the period 1st January 2014 to 31st March 2017,” BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel said in a statement after a meeting of Board’s Marketing Committee.
“Rights include the right to be called the ‘Official Team Sponsor’ and to display a commercial logo on the team clothing of the Senior Men’s Cricket Team, the U-19 Men’s Cricket Team, the Men’s A-Team and the Women’s Team.”
The Indian team would have been without a sponsor after this month as Sahara had pulled the plug on its deal a few months ago owing to a financial dispute with the BCCI.
Although the BCCI did not specify the amount, it is learnt that Star will shell out Rs 1.92 crore per match organised by the board.
“The tender document, which was available from 11th November 2013, was picked up by seven prospective bidders. Bids were accepted until 3:00 pm on 9th December 2013, at which time the bids were opened and evaluated. Two bidders – Star India Pvt Ltd and Sahara India Financial Corporation – were in the fray. Sahara’s bid was found to be ineligible,” Patel said.
Sahara, however, claimed they were disqualified because of the dispute with the Board regarding the IPL franchise and the entire bidding process was “stage-managed”.
It is learnt that Sahara had bid Rs 2.35 crore per BCCI match and Rs 91 lakh for ICC games. The total amount bid by them stood at Rs 252 crore in contrast to Rs 203 crore bid by Star. Patel said Star would also be the holder of the broadcast, internet and mobile rights of cricket in India until March 2018.
While floating the tender for the sponsorship rights, the BCCI had slashed the base price to Rs 1.5 crore per match this time. Sahara had been paying Rs 3.34 crore per international match since 2010. The company had outbid Airtel in 2010 to extend its sponsorship of the Indian team. Three years ago, the BCCI base price was Rs 2.5 crore per match. Sahara secured the rights by paying Rs 3.34 crore per international game.