India is expected to play in the Asia Cup without a team sponsor

India is expected to play in the Asia Cup without a team sponsor

Following the end of India’s government ban on online betting games, the national cricket team’s sponsorship has also come to an end. As a result, the Indian team jersey is now without a lead sponsor.

India may participate in the upcoming Asia Cup without a lead sponsor on their jerseys. This situation comes after Dream11 ended its contract with the BCCI last month. The company had to withdraw because of a new law passed by the Indian government that bans real-money online gaming, which was Dream11’s main business.

Dream11’s deal with the BCCI was worth around ₹358 crore (USD 44 million) and was supposed to last until 2026. However, the contract included a clause that allowed Dream11 to exit if government regulations affected their operations. After the new gaming law was introduced, Dream11 informed the BCCI that it would have to pull out.

To find a new sponsor, the BCCI released an invitation for expressions of interest on September 2. Companies interested in bidding must purchase the documents by September 12 and submit their bids by September 16. However, the Asia Cup begins on September 9 and ends on September 28, so India may start the tournament without a sponsor.

This isn’t the first time the BCCI has faced a mid-contract exit. In 2019, mobile company OPPO ended its deal early, and Byju’s stepped in as a replacement. Dream11 later won the sponsorship rights in 2023. The BCCI has made it clear that companies involved in alcohol, betting, gambling, cryptocurrency, online money gaming, tobacco, or anything that could offend public morals like pornography are not allowed to bid.

The Indian team is set to leave for the UAE on September 4. They are placed in Group A with Oman, Pakistan, and the UAE. India will play the UAE and Pakistan in Dubai on September 10 and 14, and then face Oman in Abu Dhabi on September 19.

Group B includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka. The top two teams from each group will move on to the Super Four stage. The top two teams from that round will play in the final on September 28.