New Delhi: The BCCI was recently dealt with a significant blow after it was announced that Chinese smartphone brand VIVO won’t be a part of the 13th edition of Indian Premier League as a title sponsor, according to reports.
VIVO is said to have paid Rs 2200 crore in 2017 for a five-year title sponsorship deal with IPL. Neither BCCI nor VIVO wants to break the contract, but given the current environment, VIVO has clarified that it will not sponsor in the upcoming IPL but it will be back as the title sponsor next year.
“They could return next year to complete the remaining three-year deal, which would be extended by a year to 2023 if India-China relations improve,” a BCCI official on condition of anonymity said. Talking about keeping the deal in the hold, a VIVO spokesperson said: “We neither accept nor deny the news. We will issue a statement once there is clarity on the situation.”
The move comes after BCCI and the IPL Governing Council have both been criticised for retaining VIVO as the title sponsor at a time when anti-China sentiment is running high in India. The government has banned Chinese apps, placed stringent restrictions on Chinese investments, and is reviewing partnerships Indian educational institutions have with Chinese institutions.
Talking to Moneycontrol, the Chairman of Mogae Media, Sandeep Goyal, stated that, “The BCCI might be able to get a sponsor for IPL 2020 at the last minute because of the tournament’s popularity. However, he felt that the board might not get the same amount — 440 crores — that VIVO was going to pay. This year IPL will begin on September 19 in the UAE. It will be intriguing to see which business giant steps up to sponsor the tournament at the last moment.
