The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has invited title sponsorship bids for all home international games and major domestic tournaments in India during the 2014-15 season.
West Indies visit India for three Test matches, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international during the period in question, which covers only six months as the BCCI eyes a significant increase in sponsorship income when the International Cricket Council’s new Future Tours Programme takes effect from 2015.
The BCCI has retained a base price of Rs 2 crore (€240,000/$328,000) per international match – the fee paid by pay-television broadcaster Star India to sponsor India’s two home international series last year. The successful bidder will also acquire the naming rights for the Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup, Duleep Trophy, Vijay Hazare trophy and Prof DB Deodhar Trophy competitions at domestic level.
India is committed to two home series annually under FTP, including five-Test series against England and four-Test rubbers versus Australia.
“The new ICC FTP will commence in 2015 and with stronger teams touring India, I think we can double our title sponsorship earnings from the current level,” BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said, according to the Press Trust of India news agency. “That’s why we have decided to invite bids for a six-month period only.”