Key Points

The BCCI will hold its 94th Annual General Meeting on September 28 in Mumbai. Team India is likely to play the Asia Cup without a lead sponsor after Dream11 terminated its contract. The fantasy sports platform exited due to India's new Online Gaming Bill prohibiting real-money gaming. The BCCI has started the process to find a new sponsor with a bid deadline of September 16.

Key Points: BCCI AGM September 28 Mumbai Elections Dream11 Sponsorship Exit

  • BCCI AGM scheduled for September 28 at Mumbai headquarters with elections
  • Team India to play Asia Cup without lead sponsor after Dream11 exit
  • Dream11 terminated contract due to new Online Gaming Bill regulations
  • BCCI seeking new sponsor with bid submission deadline September 16
4 min read

BCCI's Annual General Meeting to be held on September 28

BCCI's 94th AGM on Sept 28 in Mumbai to hold elections as Team India faces Asia Cup without a lead sponsor after Dream11's contract termination.

"We have to abruptly cut their contract period. They are no longer part of the BCCI's team sponsorship deal. - BCCI Secretary"

Mumbai, September 6

The 94th Annual General Meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will take place on September 28 this year at the board's headquarters in Mumbai, as per board's sources.

The meeting will be held at 11:30 AM IST and will feature elections for all posts and some business calls, the sources added.

Notably, Team India is likely to play the Asia Cup without any lead sponsor.

Earlier in August, fantasy sports platform Dream11 parted ways with the Indian cricket team as its lead sponsor, following the Online Gaming Bill being passed in the Parliament last week. Saikia confirmed the development, citing the Online Gaming Bill as the reason.

In 2023, the BCCI announced a deal with Dream11 as the lead sponsor for Team India. Dream11 replaced Byju's, whose contract ended in March that year, and had signed the agreement with BCCI for a period of three years.

Expressing his views on termination with Dream 11, the BCCI secretary told ANI on Saturday, "As the team's sponsorship is concerned, regarding the jersey of the Indian team, we had the contract till March 2026. So with Dream 11, we had a three-year contract, which was going to be over by March 2026. But because of the new law, which has come into place, we have to abruptly cut their contract period. They are no longer part of the BCCI's team sponsorship deal. We have six months left with them, and thereafter, we have another two to three years tenure."

Team India is likely to play the upcoming Asia Cup without a lead sponsor on their shirts following Dream 11's withdrawal from its deal with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) last month, reported ESPNCricinfo.

On Tuesday, the BCCI kick-started the process of gaining a new sponsor as they released an invitation for expression of interest for the lead sponsorship rights for the national team.

The last date for parties to purchase this invitation of interest is September 12, and the bid submission deadline is September 16. The Asia Cup will kick off on September 9 and conclude on September 28. Following the Indian government's passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill last month, which prohibits real-money gaming, Team India needed a new sponsor, as the aforementioned form of gaming was Dream 11's main business. Following this development, Dream11 communicated to the BCCI that it would have to pull out of the deal, which had an exit clause in place to account for such government regulations. Dream11's contract was until 2026 and was worth 44 million USD (Rs 358 crore approximately), as per ESPNCricinfo.

Previously, OPPO, a mobile phone company, had withdrawn from the contract three years prior to its scheduled end, in 2019. The education technology company Byju's filled the space before Dream 11's successful bid for a three-year bid in 2023.

In its invitation for expression of interest for team sponsor, BCCI also specified that brands related to alcohol, betting or gambling services, cryptocurrency, online money gaming, tobacco brands, or any product or service likely to "offend public morals, such as, including but not limited to, pornography" were ineligible to submit a bid. India will kick off their campaign against the UAE on September 10, while the high-voltage game against Pakistan is scheduled for September 14, with both fixtures set to be played in Dubai. India will play their final group stage fixture against Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi.

After the group stage, the tournament will proceed to the Super 4, where the top two teams from each group will qualify. If India finishes at the top of Group A, then all of their Super 4 matches will be held in Dubai. If India finishes second, then one of their Super 4 clashes will be held in Abu Dhabi, and the remaining two will be held in Dubai. The Super 4 stage will run from September 20 to 26. Dubai will host the final, which is scheduled for September 28.

Team India squad for Asia Cup: Surya Kumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh

Reserve players: Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Actually appreciate the government's stance on online gaming regulations. Cricket sponsorship should come from ethical businesses. Maybe this is an opportunity for Indian manufacturing or tech companies to step up! 🏏
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Arjun K
The timing is terrible with Asia Cup starting soon. But at least the team looks strong! Excited to see Surya leading and Bumrah back in action. Sponsorship will sort itself out eventually.
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Sarah B
Interesting to see how quickly BCCI is moving with the September deadlines. The eligibility criteria for sponsors is quite strict now - no betting, alcohol, or gaming. Good move for the sport's image.
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Vikram M
Dream11 paid 358 crores! That's massive money. Hope BCCI finds someone who can match that financial commitment. Indian cricket needs that revenue for grassroots development.
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Michael C
From a business perspective, BCCI's handling of sponsor transitions has been messy. First Byju's, then Dream11 - both ended prematurely. They need better contract management and risk assessment.

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