MAM
Nimbus ties in main sponsors for Afro-Asia Cup
MUMBAI: Nimbus Sport, commercial rights holder for the upcoming Afro-Asia Cup cricket tournament, has sold the title and Asia team sponsorship rights to Standard Chartered and Hero Honda respectively. The Africa team sponsorship has been secured by Sahara Computers, the infotech division of the Sahara Group.
With the title sponsor being Standard Chartered, the Cup has been rechristened, ‘The Standard Chartered Afro Asia Cup 2005’.
The Afro-Asia Cup is being jointly organised by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the Africa Cricket Association (ACA) with the inaugural edition in South Africa being played from 17-21 August. The 2006 tournament will be in Asia and the 2007 tournament will be in Africa. All three Afro-Asia Cups will consist of three One Day Internationals each played as day-night games between Asia and Africa, with the teams being drawn from the best players of the respective continents. The ICC has granted official ODI status to all matches.
Nimbus Sport International CEO Digvijay Singh said, “We are delighted to welcome Standard Chartered Bank to the Afro Asia Cup sponsor family. As a globally respected international bank that has strong presence in Africa and Asia, Stan Chart is an ideal partner. With this event appealing to audiences from seven cricketing nations and with the global broadcast plan on TV as well as the Internet, we are looking forward to the Standard Chartered Afro Asia Cup 2005 being the first of a great series of events.”
The lead-up to the tournament has been marred, however, by the pullout of two key members of the Asian squad – India’s Mr Dependable Rahul Dravid and Sri Lanka’s master blaster Sanath Jayasuria.
Nimbus paid $ 12 million to the Asian Cricket Council to secure commercial rights to the Afro-Asia Cup cricket for the next three years and says it plans to introduce several television licensing innovations in this and subsequent tournaments.
Broadcasters of the Tournament:
India: Zee TV and Zee Sports
Pakistan: ARY Digital
Sri Lanka: Rupavahini
Bangladesh: Bangladesh Television
Middle East: ARY Digital
African Continent: Supersport
UK: Zee International
USA: Zee International
Nimbus Sport International will broadcast the tournament over broadband internet on www.willow.tv.
MAM
Crocs and Lego launch new collaborative collection in India
Iconic brands bring playful creativity to footwear with first drop on 13 April 2026.
MUMBAI: Crocs and Lego have clicked together once again and this time, the bricks are heading straight for Indian feet. The global footwear brand Crocs has announced the India launch of its latest Crocs x Lego Group collection, following the excitement of their multi-year global partnership unveiled earlier this year. The collaboration celebrates creativity, play, and individuality, merging Crocs’ signature comfort with Lego’s iconic building-block spirit.
The collection will roll out in two phases. A digital-exclusive pre-launch begins on 13 April 2026 on crocs.in, featuring four styles: the Lego Masterbrand Creativity Clog, Lego Midnight Garden Creativity Clog, Lego Creativity Clog, and Kids’ Lego Creativity Clog. Each pair purchased during this phase will include an exclusive Lego minifigure as a collectible bonus.
From May 2026, the full collection will be available across select Crocs stores, VegNonVeg, and Foot Locker outlets nationwide.
The designs playfully blend Crocs’ classic clog silhouette with Lego brick-inspired details, complete with custom Jibbitz charms on the upper and sole. The collection encourages wearers to treat their footwear as a canvas for personal expression, without any set instructions just an open invitation to build, explore, and have fun.
Crocs chief marketing officer Carly Gomez said, “The Lego Group’s boundless imagination makes them the perfect match to Crocs’ wonderfully unordinary spirit. We are both brands that pride ourselves on being built different, celebrating self-expression and fuelling creativity.”
LEGO Group, head of licensing & extended line design & partnerships Satwik Saraswati added, “Our common mission to enable self-expression and wear it with pride only marks the beginning of a journey with endless possibilities.”
The campaign will extend beyond the product launch through creator-led seeding, elevated visual merchandising, and exclusive on-ground previews, supported by a deeper partnership with the Lego India team.
In a market that loves both comfort and fun, Crocs and Lego have built something special, a collection that lets every step feel like playtime. Get ready to click your heels (or rather, your clogs) because this collaboration is set to be a blockbuster hit with Indian fans.
