Chinese checkers hits cricket in different board game

The Indo-China border conflict has led to a different board game. Irked by the rising antiChina sentiment in the country and the call to boycott its products post the June military confrontation in Galwan Valley, Chinese mobile phone company Vivo on Tuesday checkmated the Indian cricket board by backing out as title sponsor of the cash-rich Indian Premier League’s 2020 season beginning in the

UAE on September 19.

That leaves little time for the BCCI to float a tender and find an alternative. The cricket board has not made any announcement yet but insiders admit to jitters in BCCI even as they are sure that a suitable sponsor will be found within the short window.

The BCCI has been slammed on social media after the IPL governing council on Sunday announced that it was retaining all sponsors for the 2020

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■ Continued from Page 1 governing council on Sunday announced that it was retaining all sponsors for the 2020 edition, a barrage that may have caused Vivo to look for the exit. The door is not entirely closed on the Chinese firm though, it could be back in 2021 and extend its tenure by an year, till 2023.

Vivo’s five-year deal worth `2,199 crore signed in 2017 runs till the 2022 edition of IPL and fetches the BCCI `440 crore every year.

However, unlike the hostility in Galwan Valley, Vivo’s severance will be conflict-free, it is learnt. The BCCI and Vivo are likely to reach a harmonious settlement and resume their partnership subject to improvement of relations between India and China.

The BCCI has opened channels to rope in short-term sponsors. “Adani or Ambani could be in the mix,” said an official with connections in the Board. “Reliance is such a big firm and has a presence everywhere, from petrol to telecommunications to insurance. Similar is the stature of the Adani Group. One of them just might jump in,” he added.

Others say Gulf-based firms could also be in fray. “With the tournament being played in oil-rich UAE, companies can gain massive mileage out of the glitzy league. I am sure they would be eyeing the event,” another official said.

All said, it’s a game of Chinese checkers for now. Whoever said sports and politics don’t mix.