Internet Desk: Star India has decided not to bid for naming rights on the jersey of Team India when its four year contract terminates in March. This will be a huge blow to the BCCI as Star India has been one of its biggest sponsors. The reason for such a decision, many believes is due to the ongoing tussle between the BCCI and International Cricket Council (ICC) over policy change. The company is seeking to have some kind of clarity before renewing its ties.
“Given all the volatility, we are indeed concerned about the health of cricket in the days ahead. No one seems to be talking about making cricket bigger and more popular. We have been very proud that our name is carried on the jersey of Team India. But given all the uncertainties, we have decided not to bid for it again. The commitments being asked for are too onerous without any clarity,” said Star India CEO Uday Shankar to Times of India.
He added, “For us, the problem is, right now we do not see a consensual leadership in cricket.The power of cricket came from the fact that everybody was aligned. The global cricket leadership was generally aligned to drive it forward. The alignment seems to have broken down. Lack of clarity both, in ICC as well as BCCI is our biggest concern right now. We have nothing to do with the politics of cricket. Currently we have invested in cricket more than any other media company has ever done. Our investments in the game are to the tune of a few billion dollars. And hence the business risk for us is very high.”