The Cricket South Africa (CSA) governing body has unveiled Italian sportswear manufacturer Macron as its new technical partner.
Macron, which has struck a five-year deal with CSA, replaces its rival Italian brand Lotto as the technical partner of top-tier cricket in South Africa.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Through a tie-up announced yesterday, Macron has secured the exclusive rights to manufacture the playing and training kits used by the men’s, women’s, and development teams. in addition, the deal covers the production of apparel for CSA staff, and of fan merchandise.
The first kits to be produced for South Africa's national teams by Macron will get an airing at the ICC Men's Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates between February 19 and March 9.
The CSA-Lotto tie-up, announced in September 2023, followed a deal between the governing body and UK brand Castore.
GlobalData Sport valued Lotto’s deal with CSA at $3 million in total.
Pholetsi Moseki, chief executive at CSA, said: “CSA is pleased to partner with Macron, a brand that is setting new standards in the sports apparel industry. Macron is not just a sportswear brand, it represents excellence and quality, crafted to enhance the performance of athletes on the field and the experience of fans off of it.”
In terms of the other significant CSA broadcast partners, this list includes brands such as Dafabet, Hollywoodbets, and KFC.
Gianluca Pavanello, Macron's chief executive, added: “This latest partnership with a leading body in the cricketing world confirms that the quality and reliability of Macron sportswear is recognized and requested by a growing number of international sports federations.”
Other major cricket tie-ups involving Macron include deals with the Cricket West Indies and Cricket Ireland governing bodies.
Elsewhere in cricket, the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) and Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Twenty20 competitions in India will be shown live in New Zealand by pay-TV heavyweight Sky.
Sky Sport will cover both men's and women's tournaments, with the WPL starting today (February 14) and running through March 16, with the 10-team IPL then taking place between March 21 and May 25.
Every match from both competitions will be shown live on Sky Sports' platforms, with a host of international New Zealand players contracted to IPL sides.
The opening game of Sky’s coverage sees the WPL’s Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore face off against each other.
In terms of other major cricket rights held by Sky, the broadcaster has a deal in place with the International Cricket Council through 2028, while it also shows international cricket held in India.
Domestic coverage of the WPL and IPL, meanwhile, is provided by Star India (linear rights) and Viacom18 (digital rights), through 2027.
