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BCCI extends sponsorship deal with Sahara

The Indian board has extended by six months its current contract with Sahara India to sponsor the national team after its inability to find any alternative sponsors

Cricinfo staff
02-Dec-2009
No takers for Dhoni & Co?  •  Sahara India Pariwar

No takers for Dhoni & Co?  •  Sahara India Pariwar

The Indian board has extended by six months its current contract with Sahara India to sponsor the national team after its inability to find any alternative sponsors. N Srinivasan, the BCCI secretary, said the extension was granted on the basis of the present terms and conditions by the marketing committee, headed by the president Shashank Manohar.
"A fresh tender will be issued, before the expiry of the extension period, inviting bids for the team sponsorhip," Srinivasan said.
Sahara's contract was to have ended on December 31 this year, and had already been extended by three months.
Reports indicate that one stumbling block in finding a new sponsor was the base price the BCCI deemed fit for the deal. While the previous contract with Sahara was a four-year-deal signed in 2006 for Rs 400 crore, the BCCI is now asking companies to top that and fork out around $35 million (about Rs 162 crore) annually.
The board also awarded the title and ground rights for the two Twenty20 internationals against Sri Lanka to WSG at Rs 3.15 crore per match.
The BCCI also said that any party that strikes a deal with it for the IPL, will have to submit a bank guarantee for the full value of the deal with immediate effect. This includes Multi Screen Media, for IPL telecast rights, and Entertainment Sports Direct (ESD), which won the IPL theatrical rights.