Emirates Strike New Shirt Sponsorship Deal

Airline giants Emirates have continued their association with the Indian Premier League (IPL) by agreeing a deal to become the new shirt sponsor of the Deccan Chargers, ed in a deal reportedly worth more than US$4 million a year.

Previously the major sponsor of the Chargers’ IPL rival Kings XI Punjab, discount Emirates have now decided to alter their business plan by agreeing a three-year contract with the Deccan team.

“We are honoured to be joining forces with the Deccan Chargers and partnering with the team for the next three IPL campaigns,” Orhan Abbas, Emirates’ vice-president for India and Nepal, said at a press conference. “It is also a great opportunity for us to further strengthen our support for a sport which the people of India follow with renowned passion. The IPL has rapidly established itself as a spectacle of sport and entertainment, followed by billions around the globe, and will provide Emirates a platform to consolidate our position as a world force in sports sponsorship.”

Deccan Chargers co-owner Gayatri Reddy added: “We are proud to have a leading global brand like Emirates as our team sponsor for the next three seasons of the IPL. We are confident this association with Emirates will be fruitful. With an exciting new squad and sponsor, we look forward to the tournament and repeating our winning performance in DLF IPL 2012.”