A day after the Board of Control for Cricket in India treasurer Arun Dhumal had termed the Indian Premier League deal with Oppo as favorable for economy, the BCCI has put on record that it will review the contract of the Chinese smart phone brand.
The decision is taken following the nation-wide anti-China sentiment and calls to boycott Chinese after a standoff after 20 Indian soldiers were martyred during a standoff with the Chinese Army at the line of actual control in the Galwan Valley of the Ladakh region.
The IPL Governing Council will review the ₹ 440 crore annual title sponsorship deal with Vivo. The BCCI will also look into its tie-ups with other brands. The council will take a call on whether to invoke the exit clause or allow Vivo to complete its five-year term.
The BBK Electronics group brand had retained the IPL title sponsorship in a record ₹ 2,199 crore rupees for a five-year period @ ₹ 440 crore per annum. The incumbent title sponsor had paid ₹ 100 crore annually for its earlier two-year deal. Vivo’s sister concern Oppo had made the next best bid of around ₹ 700 crore for the five-year IPL title sponsorship from 2018 to 2022.
“Taking note of the border skirmish that resulted in the martyrdom of our brave jawans, the IPL Governing Council has convened a meeting next week to review IPL’s various sponsorship deals,” read a tweet on the IPL official handle tweeted late on Friday night.
Among the other BCCI sponsors, PayTM has an investment by Alibaba. The Chinese investor owns 37.15% stake the in the Indian digital payment platform.Chinese firm Tencent is a stakeholder in Team India sponsor brand Tencent. Among other BCCI sponsors, Swiggy and Dream11 have investment by Chinese companies.
BCCI’s national team shirt sponsor BYJUs pays ₹1,079 crore for five years since last year. Tencent has a stake in BYJUS.
It is understood that discussion will be on whether to invoke the exit clause or honour Vivo’s contract till 2022.
“PayTM and BYJUS are related to the Indian team. First priority is IPL sponsorships — Vivo, Dream 11 and Swiggy which have Chinese investments. Can’t say the same about PayTM and BYJUS but you never know it can also come up for discussion,” an IPL governing council member told PTI.
The Indian Olympic Association secretary general Rajiv Mehta has also said that the IOA is ready to reconsider its sponsorship deals with the Chinese brands.