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ICC to begin sale of sponsorship rights
MUMBAI: Having locked in $ 1.1 billion dollars from the sale of telecast rights, the International Cricket Council will soon start the sales process for sponsorship rights to ICC events over the next eight years, including the World Cup in 2015.
The period includes 18 ICC tournaments with two ICC Cricket World Cups, in Asia (2011) and Australasia (2015), and a minimum of three ICC Champions Trophy tournaments.
Also included are the first two ICC Twenty20 World Championships, in South Africa (2007) and England (2009), the latter taking place in the ICC’s centenary year.
The ICC intends to enter negotiations with prospective sponsors with a view to concluding agreements during the first half of 2007.
Chief executive officer Malcolm Speed said: “The ICC’s executive board began this process in April of last year when it confirmed the venues for ICC events from the second half of 2007 to the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.
“With those events and a broadcasting agreement to cover them in place, we are now in a position to go to market to obtain the best possible partners for cricket.
“For the first time the ICC is able to offer one major event every year and the quality and variety of those events and the fact they span the globe mean they represent exceptional value for sponsors.
“Live telecasts will be supported by an integrated promotion plan for major events and for the sport. It all means that companies have never had a bigger and more prestigious opportunity in cricket.”
The ICC has already sold its broadcast rights for the period with ESPN Star Sports in December named as its Global Media and Production Partner in a agreement worth $ 1.1 billion.
ICC Events 2007 – 2015
2007 Cricket World Cup March/April March/April West Indies*
Twenty20 World Championship September South Africa
2008 U/19 Cricket World Cup February Malaysia
Champions Trophy September Pakistan
2009 Women’s Cricket World Cup March Australia
ICC Trophy April UAE
Twenty20 World Championship June England
2010 U/19 Cricket World Cup February Kenya
Champions Trophy March/April West Indies
World Cricket League TBC The Netherlands
2011 Cricket World Cup February/March Bangladesh/India/Pakistan/Sri Lanka
2012 U/19 Cricket World Cup July Canada
Champions Trophy/Twenty20 World Championship September Sri Lanka
2013 Women’s Cricket World Cup February India
Champions Trophy/Twenty20 World Championship TBC TBC
2014 Champions Trophy/Twenty20 World Championship April Bangladesh
U/19 Cricket World Cup February/March UAE
World Cricket League TBC TBC
2015 Cricket World Cup February/March Australia/New Zealand
* broadcast and sponsorship rights for this event owned by News Corp Owned Global Cricket Corporation.
MAM
BLS International launches #VisaReady campaign to guide applicants
Initiative targets visa myths, delays and rejections with practical guidance
MUMBAI: Visa woes may soon meet their match because paperwork, it seems, is finally getting a user manual. BLS International has rolled out a new awareness drive, #VisaReadyWithBLSInternational, aimed at simplifying the often confusing visa application process and reducing delays caused by misinformation and incomplete documentation. The campaign, led across social media platforms, zeroes in on a long-standing pain point for travellers: lack of clarity around procedures, timelines and requirements. By offering step-by-step guidance, documentation checklists and clear Dos and Don’ts, the initiative attempts to turn what is typically a stressful process into a more predictable one.
At its core, the campaign also seeks to bust common myths that frequently derail applications issues that often lead to avoidable rejections or last-minute complications. The idea is to equip applicants with practical, actionable insights so they can plan better and submit stronger applications within expected timelines.
The push will not remain limited to digital channels. BLS International plans to extend the initiative across its Visa Application Centres globally, reinforcing awareness at key touchpoints where applicants engage with the process.
BLS International joint managing director Shikhar Aggarwal framed the campaign as more than a communication exercise, emphasising the company’s attempt to embed guidance and preparedness into every stage of the applicant journey.
Operating in over 70 countries and working with more than 46 client governments including embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions, the company has built a sizeable footprint in visa and consular services. With this campaign, it is now leaning into education as much as execution, signalling that in the world of visas, clarity might just be the new currency.
