October 08 Tuesday 2002
Sahara to return as India team sponsor 

NEW DELHI: A top Indian business group has announced it is resuming its sponsorship of the national cricket team after pulling out before last month's Champions Trophy because of a ban on players sporting its logo. 

The Sahara group said in a statement on Monday that it decided to renew its ties with the Indian squad after a request by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). 

Sahara India, which runs India's third largest airline, said the players will now sport its logo during the home Test series against West Indies starting on Wednesday. 

"Sahara has taken into account the support displayed by BCCI to Sahara as the Indian team sponsor in future ICC events and BCCI's assurance towards the resolution of the logo issue prior to the World Cup of 2003," said the statement. 

But the group would still seek damages from those responsible for not displaying its logo at the Champions Trophy, it said. Sahara's recent pull-out came after the International Cricket Council (ICC) directed the Indian board to change the logo which was seen to be in conflict with South African Airways, one of the main sponsors of the 12-team Champions Trophy event in Colombo. 

Sahara agreed to change the logo name to "Subrata" -- after its chairman Subrata Roy -- but refused to accept the ICC's direction that the logo graphics would also have to be changed. 

The Champions Trophy controversy was part of a dispute over ambush marketing and player-image clauses contained in a participation contract for ICC-run events. The ICC has signed a $550 million deal with Global Cricket Corporation (GCC), valid until 2007 for all ICC events, barring teams from endorsing products of companies that are rivals of official tournament sponsors. 

India's leading players refused to sign up before agreeing at the 11th hour after the ICC watered down certain clauses. The ICC has appointed a five-member committee to advise a permanent solution to the issue which could again come up ahead of next year's World Cup in South Africa.