The Indian cricket board awarding its team sponsorship rights for the next three years both reflects the current shaky economic situation as well as the sports body's penchant to court controversy. The BCCI sold the rights to its broadcast partner, Star India Pvt Ltd with the successful bid worth
a reported Rs. 203 crore.
However, the decision by the BCCI marketing committee on Monday has again raised allegations of arbitrariness by the board after the Sahara Group, the current shirt sponsors at Rs. 3.34 crore per match whose deal runs until December end, were left seething.
The Sahara Group, which fell out with the board over the termination of its IPL team, Pune Warriors, has alleged the process was "stage managed" to leave Star as the only bidder despite Sahara's bid worth about Rs. 253 crore.