CRICKET IRELAND HAS secured a major sponsorship coup with the announcement of a three-year deal with global conglomerate, The KPC Group.
The Indian-based company was announced as the new primary sponsor at the unveiling of Cricket Ireland’s strategic plan in Dublin this morning.
The KPC Group, which is involved in a diverse range of industries around the world, fills the void left by Royal Sun Alliance (RSA) who ended its seven-year partnership with Cricket Ireland in December 2014.
The exact details of the deal have not been disclosed but the lucrative partnership is a timely fillip for Cricket Ireland as it looks to broaden horizons and bring the sport to new audiences.
“Our goal of playing Test matches by the end of 2020 needs to be broader and more ambitious – it needs to envision Ireland not just being a major force in cricket, but cricket being a major force in Ireland,” Cricket Ireland CEO, Warren Deutrom, said.
“When we think of ‘major’ in Ireland, we think of GAA, rugby and football. Well, why not cricket too? We need to shift perceptions of cricket as an elitist, exclusive sport to one that is open and accessible to all. We need to demystify the sport for the Irish public by making it visible, accessible, affordable and inspiring.”
In addition to the announcement of The KPC Group’s partnership, Cricket Ireland also confirmed that O’Neill’s, the sportswear company, has extended its deal for another four years.
The deals, announced in-front of assembled guests at the Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield, reflect Cricket Ireland’s growing stature as a sporting organisation and underline the willingness of prospective partners to become involved in the sport.
The team’s on-field success has opened up a range of commercial opportunities with as many as nine partners now on board.
Indian conglomerate Shapoorji Pallonji bought the title rights of the Cricket Ireland Academy in a multi-million Euro deal two years ago.
The commercial boost comes on the eve of a busy international summer with Ireland hosting Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Afghanistan for home series while two Twenty20 fixtures against Hong Kong have also been added to the schedule for September.
Cricket Ireland are set to announce further fixtures against Full Member nations for 2017 at another event in Belfast tomorrow.
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