Speculation is that there is a likelihood of a major showdown between the current cricket team sponsors Dialog Telecom Plc. and Sri Lanka Cricket over the indefinite postponement of the Zimbabwe’s Sri Lanka tour that was to follow current Lankan tour of Pakistan.
Dialog threw out a Rs.10 million bailout package to Sri Lanka Cricket when it was looking out for a sponsor for the Indian tour. The Dialog sponsorship package was to cover the short five match Indian tour, the two Tests against Pakistan and the Zimbabwe tour, which was to run till the end of March this year. However according to cricket authorities the Zimbabwe tour was included in the package as a bonus.
According to reports, the sponsor is clearly not happy with the arrangement of not getting the Zimbabwe part of the agreement. As a result, Dialog’s exposure to the number of playing days is going to fall short of the promised 24 days of cricket.
According to an SLC spokesman the main cause for the postponement of the tour was a request made by TV coverage provider Ten Sports asking both Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe to reschedule the tour.
The TV company had cited that as they were engaged in the coverage of the Australia vs. South Africa series and the England-West Indies series a third series would overload them.
The SLC spokesman added “However we are looking for suitable dates to reschedule the tour and the moment we find a proper window we will finalise the dates”.
The SLC insider also speaking on the financial aspects of the Zimbabwe tour said, “There is no doubt that the Zimbabwe tour is going to be a huge financial burden on us. Nevertheless it is also difficult even for a sponsor to rate the exposure that you get in a game against India to what you get in a match against Zimbabwe. The difference is huge”.
When contacted, Dialog’s Group Chief Marketing Officer Nushad Perera said, “We have not been officially informed of such a development as yet, but when we hear it officially, we will have talks with the SLC”.
Zimbabwe was billed to play a tour match and five ODIs with the first match scheduled for March 13. |
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