On Friday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) treasurer Arun Dhumal said that the BCCI is open to reviewing its sponsorship policy for the next cycle but has no plans to end its association with current IPL title sponsor Vivo as the money coming in from a Chinese company is helping India’s cause and not the other way round.
Anti-China sentiments are running strong in India following the border clash at Galwan Valley earlier this week between the two countries. The first brawl at India-China border in more than four decades left at least 20 Indian soldiers dead. Since then, calls have been made to boycott Chinese products.
But Dhumal said Chinese companies sponsoring an Indian event like the IPL only serve his country’s interests.
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On the side note, BCCI gets Rs 440 crore annually from Vivo and the five-year deal ends in 2022.
In a recent interaction, Dhumal said, “When you talk emotionally, you tend to leave the rationale behind. We have to understand the difference between supporting a Chinese company for a Chinese cause or taking help from Chinese company to support India’s cause.”
He further argued, “When we are allowing Chinese companies to sell their products in India, whatever money they are taking from Indian consumer, they are paying part of it to the BCCI (as brand promotion) and the board is paying 42 percent tax on that money to the Indian government. So, that is supporting India’s cause and not China’s.”
Oppo, a mobile phone brand like Vivo, was sponsoring the Indian cricket team until September last year. Later Bengaluru-based educational technology Byju’s start-up replaced the Chinese company.
Dhumal said that he’s all about reducing dependence on Chinese products, but as long as their companies are allowed to do business in India, sponsoring an Indian brand like the IPL is no harm in them.
Dhumal went on to say that the BCCI is spoiled for choice when it comes to attracting sponsors, whether Indian or Chinese or from any other country.