BCA opens up for corporate sponsorship

Vadodara: This cricketing season, don’t be surprised if the Baroda Ranji players turn up on the ground sporting corporate logos on their t-shirts. The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) has decided to offer sponsorship of its teams to the corporate world. And for the first time, it has hired a Singapore-based firm to not just bring in sponsorship but also generate content about the players and tournaments.
The association aims to earn over Rs three crore annually from the corporate deals. “The corporate sector will be offered sponsorship of our teams including Ranji, Under-19, Under-16, Under-14 and the Zaveri League squads. The company will be able to put their logo on the t-shirts, cricket kits and other products used by the players during the matches. Also, companies may get space along with the content we put on the BCA website,” said Satyajitsinh Gaekwad, BCA chairman, press and publicity committee.
When asked if BCA has informed the BCCI for the sponsorship of its teams, Gaekwad said, “We have taken permission from the BCCI and the association will only commit those corporate sponsorship deals that the cricket board permits.”
“The money generated from the sponsorships and other mediums will be used only for cricketers. The players would be given additional match fees apart from the one that the BCCI or BCA gives after the tournament. This will give a boost to our cricketers,” Gaekwad told TOI. Interestingly, the 1 Play Sports is foraying into cricket for the first time and they have done their first deal with the BCA.
BCA officials said that in the five-year contract signed with 1 Play Sports, BCA and the firm will produce sports content around the cricket community and also live stream events on social media platforms. BCA CEO Shishir Hattangadi, who came up with the idea of hiring a firm for promoting Baroda cricket, said that it’s a landmark partnership.