ICC makes further tracks with Indian tyre firm

The International Cricket Council has built upon its partnership with MRF through signing a new four-year global partnership with the Indian tyre manufacturer.

The company, which partnered the governing body during last year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, has agreed to become a global partner of ICC events from 2016 to 2020. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The deal will cover this year’s World Twenty20 championship in India, as well as the 2017 Champions Trophy and the World Cup in 2019, which will both be staged in England and Wales.

ICC chief executive David Richardson said: “Our aim at ICC events is to create an exceptional experience for all involved and I am confident that not only will MRF help us enhance that aim, but (also) that the forthcoming ICC events will help MRF promote its brand and expand its reach to other parts of the globe.

“MRF is already an active promotor and supporter of cricket with a number of domestic and international fast bowlers benefitting from its MRF Pace Foundation. I am excited that MRF has elected to be cricket’s global partner and I am confident that this will be the start of a long relationship.”

The ICC’s latest deal comes after it entered into an eight-year event partnership with money transfer and payment services company MoneyGram earlier this month. The ICC agreed global partnerships with Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo in December and Japanese automotive manufacturer Nissan in October.