Rasna, Vadilal vie for ICL's 'Ahmedabad Rockets'

Firms like Aava are in talks with ICL for sponsoring the team.

IPL’s loss may turn out to be ICL’s gain. With no participation of Gujarat team in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)-promoted Indian Premier League (IPL), Gujarat-based advertisers have lapped up Zee group-backed Indian Cricket League’s (ICL) Ahmedabad team ‘Ahmedabad Rockets’ and ICL 20:20 Championship matches to be played in Ahmedabad.

Market sources say there are a number of companies which have evinced interest in sponsoring the local team.

Soft drink concentrate-maker Rasna International Pvt, packaged natural mineral water manufacturer Aava and ice-cream maker Vadilal Industries are said to be in talks with ICL to sponsor Gujarat’s own home team Ahmedabad Rockets and ICL 20:20 matches.

Apart from sponsoring the team, some corporates are also keen to sponsor stadium during the matches, said sources close to the development.

“We are thinking of sponsorship and currently we are in talks with ICL. However, nothing has been finalised yet,” said officials of Ahmedabad-based Vadilal Industries.

The corporates believe that ICL’s tournament offers good business opportunity as it is for the first time 20:20 format matches are being planned in Ahmedabad. Also, BCCI promoted IPL does not have any team from Gujarat and ICL seem to be getting the first movers advantage in the city, sources added.

Total eight matches of ICL 20:20 Championship are to be played at Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, for which ICL has entered into an agreement with Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) for upgradation of the stadium. ICL will spend Rs. 10 crore for a face-lift of the stadium.

The forthcoming ICL 20:20 Championship is scheduled kick off on 10 October, 2008. A total of 34 matches will be played at four grounds, including eight at Sardar Patel Stadium at Ahmedabad.

Earlier while announcing the tie-up with AMC for stadium, ICL’s business head Himanshu Mody had said that ICL hoped to rake in Rs. 120 crore of revenues from sponsorships in the ICL 20:20 tournament.