Certain brands ‘cannot bid’ as BCCI invites tender for lead sponsor | Cricket News – Times of India

MUMBAI: The BCCI has placed certain interesting conditions while inviting the tender applications for Team India’s lead sponsorship rights after Ed-Tech firm BYJUs left the scene by March 31 this year.
The Bangalore-based corporation, that has been through some turbulent times economically, had been the lead sponsor of Team India since 2019, with its logo appearing on the front of the players’ shirts, with the deal apparently being worth $35 million.
In a media release on Wednesday announcing the release of Invitation to Tender (ITT) for Team India’s lead sponsor Rights, the Board mentioned “certain brand categories in which the interested party cannot bid.”
They are, (a) Athleisure and Sportswear Manufacturer; (b) Alcohol Products; (c) Betting; d) Cryptocurrency; (e) Real Money Gaming (Except Fantasy Sports Gaming); (f) Tobacco; and (g) one which is likely to offend public morals such as, including but not limited to, pornography.”
With the ODI World Cup set to be played in India later this year, there could be quite a few bidders to get their names displayed on the front of the Indian cricket team players’ shirts. The Board had last month roped in sportswear giant Adidas as the team’s new kit sponsor.
The bid document can be bought for a non-refundable fee of Rs 5 lakh (plus any applicable Goods and Services Tax). The ITT will be available for purchase till June 26, 2023.
“The BCCI invites bids from reputed entities for acquiring the National Team Lead Sponsor rights. Any interested party wishing to submit a bid is required to purchase the ITT.
“However, only those satisfying the eligibility criteria set out in the ITT and subject to the other terms and conditions set out therein, shall be eligible to bid. It is clarified that merely purchasing the ITT does not entitle any person to bid,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in the release on Wednesday.