DP World, the Dubai-based international logistics company, has been announced as the inaugural title sponsor of the International League T20 (ILT20) short-form franchise cricket competition, starting in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in January, in a five-year tie-up.
The agreement, announced yesterday (December 15), will see DP World put its name to the first half-decade of the six-team franchise competition, of which the inaugural edition will take place between January 13 and February 12 next year.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The first-ever DP World International League T20 will contain 34 matches in total and adds to the ever-growing ranks of domestic franchise Twenty20 tournaments worldwide. It will run side by side with the new SA20 South African competition – for which online betting brand Betway was on Wednesday (December 14) announced as the title partner – and will also coincide with the closing stages of the Australian Big Bash League.
Companies to have snapped up ILT20 franchise ownership rights include Reliance Industries, Lancer Capital, Adani, and Capri Global.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, group chair and chief executive at DP World, said: “We are proud to announce our title sponsorship of the newest competition for one of the world’s most popular sports. The partnership offers a unique opportunity to be a part of the UAE’s first home-grown cricket tournament, and once again help turn Dubai into the sports capital of the region.”
Khalid Al Zarooni, the ILT20’s chair, added: “DP World is synonymous with high-profile sports and internationally renowned sporting events, and we are delighted with their foresight to partner with the first home-grown, UAE-based competition. We look forward to an extremely beneficial and rewarding partnership.”
Between August 27 and September 11, DP World was the title sponsor of the Asia Cup national teams’ cricket tournament.
The logistics firm is also a commercial partner of the Royal Challengers Bangalore, who compete in the prestigious Indian Premier League.
In addition to these agreements, in mid-October, the logistics giant became the naming rights partner for the iconic Wanderers cricket stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Across sport as a whole, the logistics firm’s most high-profile sporting tie-up is its title sponsorship deal with the European Tour golf organization, struck in November last year. The main European golf tournament series is now known commercially as the DP World Tour.
