The American multinational financial services corporation, Mastercard, has announced its association with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
In this collaboration, Mastercard has received the privilege of being the title sponsor for all international fixtures conducted in India, and domestic competitions like the Ranji Trophy, Irani Trophy, and Duleep Trophy organized by the Indian cricket board. The partnership includes both men’s and women’s fixtures along with all junior cricket (Under 19 and Under 23) matches helmed in India.
With this development, Mastercard aims to enhance its reach in India. The BCCI is the latest addition to Mastercard’s global and prestigious sponsorship portfolio, which consists of the UEFA Champions League, the Australian and French Open tennis tournaments, the Grammys, and the Cannes Film Festival
Mr. Sourav Ganguly, President, BCCI said, “The BCCI welcomes Mastercard as the Title Sponsor for home cricket matches for the 2022-23 season. Along with the international home series, the BCCI’s domestic tournaments are crucial as they are a stepping stone towards making India a strong international side. The BCCI truly values Mastercard’s support in building Indian cricket. This sport is more than a passion point, it’s a way of life and we look forward to some innovative experiences for the fans via this partnership and delivering value to Mastercard through this collaboration.”
Mr Jay Shah, Honorary Secretary, BCCI said, “The BCCI is pleased to associate with a global marquee brand – Mastercard. We are in for an exciting period in Indian Cricket as we have Australia and South Africa coming over for white-ball series before the T20 World Cup and Sri Lanka, New Zealand and the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy early next year while domestic cricket has a packed calendar with the return of the Duleep Trophy and a full-fledged Ranji Trophy season. The 2022-23 season will witness a lot of action across age groups and I am confident that this will be an enriching partnership.”
Mr Raja Rajamannar, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Mastercard said, “Cricket is a perfect amalgamation of sports and entertainment with immense potential to deliver priceless moments. Our globally recognized “Priceless” platform offers us the unique opportunity to delight our cardholders, customers and partners worldwide. Cricket enjoys unparalleled popularity not just in India where it is a singular unifying force for the nation, but also in several countries around the world. It is therefore particularly relevant and opportune for us to have acquired the title sponsor rights for all home international and domestic cricket matches organized by the BCCI.”
The former Indian skipper, MS Dhoni, who has been Mastercard’s ambassador for over four years added, “Cricket has been my life and given me everything I have. I am thrilled that Mastercard is sponsoring all the home cricket matches of the BCCI, and especially the domestic, junior and women’s cricket. The Ranji and junior players of today will play for the country tomorrow and continue to embody the pride of 1.3 billion Indians.”
Paytm held the title sponsorship rights of the BCCI international and domestic home fixtures earlier and reportedly requested the Indian cricket governing body to assign the title sponsorship rights to Mastercard.