da betano casino： Cricket South Africa hope to secure a sponsor for the one-day series against Sri Lanka by next week, after confirming Sunfoil will continue to back the Test series.
da brdice： Firdose Moonda09-Dec-2011Cricket South Africa hopes to secure a sponsor for the one-day series against Sri Lanka by next week, after confirming that sunflower cooking oil manufacturer Sunfoil will continue to back the Test series. Cricket has, so far, endured a troubled summer, in which the ongoing bonus scandal, rather than on-field activities, have dominated the sport’s headlines.The issue, centred on money paid out in bonuses to 40 staff after the hosting of the 2009 IPL and Champions Trophy, is currently the subject of a ministerial commission of inquiry. The saga has dragged on since July last year and spilled from the boardroom to the pitch when corporates began turning their backs on cricket.The T20 and ODI series against Australia took place without a sponsor, with the title rights for the two Twenty20 matches being given away to the Make a Difference charity, at no cost. At the last moment, Sunfoil stepped in to sponsor the Test series, saving CSA from a situation in which the only sponsor they had was Castle Lager, who have continued to back the Test team, while also extending their funding to cover the ODI team.An insider told ESPNcricinfo that Sunfoil was given “a very attractive deal” and that the nature of the company, which is “a family-owned business with close ties to cricket,” is likely the chief reason for them agreeing to sponsor cricket when no-one else would. Sunfoil also sponsor the Dolphins franchise and both the Dolphins and Lions development programmes. They have extended their deal to include the three-Test series against Sri Lanka, but the five ODIs which follow are still financial orphans.”Negotiations are ongoing,” CSA acting president AK Khan said in Johannesburg. “Some companies have requested time until next week but we hope to have some confirmation by December 15.”CSA had previously claimed that they had contracted sponsors prior to the season starting and were waiting for the bonus saga to end before announcing them. Now, it seems some of those firms may have backed out completely and the search had to begin again. “There are new companies that have approached us,” Khan said.One of those who backpedalled might have been the prospective domestic one-day cup sponsors. The entire competition was completed without a sponsor, the first the time the tournament has been without a backer. CSA will want to avoid a similar situation with their twenty-over tournament.The competition is scheduled for February and has already seen some big names sign up. Chris Gayle and Shaun Tait have both been contracted to the Dolphins franchise while Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq will turn out for the Lions. Each franchise has been allowed to contract two foreign players. An additional, seventh franchise has been added to the tournament. This team will be comprised of the best semi-professional players in the country and will be allowed to contract four foreign players.The international element of the competition makes it CSA’s hottest property and companies are expected to be lining up to sponsor it. However, there may be a delay. While the ministerial committee has heard all the testimony, Judge Chris Nicholson is only expected to make his recommendations towards the end of February, which could leave the domestic T20 without a sponsor as well.
