BCCI invites bids for sponsorship rights

Mumbai: The Indian Cricket Board on Friday invited bids for the title sponsorship rights of BCCI`s international and domestic matches after telecom giant Airtel decided not to renew its contract.

"The Board of Control for Cricket in India has published an ITT (Invitation to Tender) for Title Sponsorship rights for BCCI international and domestic matches for the period October 2013 to 31st March 2014," BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said in a statement. "The rights fee will be on a per International match basis." The BCCI marketing committee headed by Union Minister Farooq Abdullah met here today to decide on the issue. As existing sponsors, BCCI gave Airtel three months` grace period to renew its contract that expired on March 31 this year. There are two international series currently scheduled during the period -- the seven-match ODI and a T20 series between India and Australia, followed by the two Tests and three One-Day Internationals against the West Indies. Sponsorship rights will extend to the domestic events such as Irani Cup, Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Vijay Hazare KO, Deodhar Trophy and Raj Singh Dungarpur Trophy. "In addition, domestic series shall also include visiting `A` teams` matches, practice matches of international visiting teams and any other List `A` matches, as may be finalised and advised by the BCCI, from time to time," it added. The ITT will be available at the BCCI Headquarters at Cricket Centre in Wankhede Stadium from September 20-26 at a cost of Rs 2 lakh. Bids will be accepted until October 3 after which the bids will be opened, evaluated and the tender awarded in the presence of bidders. Airtel had won the rights as series sponsors for all international and domestic matches played in India from September 1, 2010 to March 31, 2013 for a consideration of Rs 3.33 crore per match. As sponsors, BCCI gave Airtel three months` grace period to renew its contract. With the company opting not to renew its contract, a 23-member BCCI panel under chairmanship of Abdullah decided on the modalities of the tender invitation process. Airtel bid for series sponsorship after they lost out on the team`s title sponsorship in July 2010. When the bid documents for the team`s title sponsorship were opened for the period from July 1, 2010 to December 31, 2013, Sahara India Pariwar bagged the rights for the 42-month window at Rs 3.34 crore per match. Airtel, the other bidder, had quoted Rs 2.89 crore per match. PTI