BCCI invites EOI for national team sponsor rights

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday invited bids for acquiring national team lead sponsor rights.

The BCCI has issued an Invitation for Expression of Interest (IEOI) for sponsor rights, which provides the detailed terms and conditions governing the submission and evaluation of bids.

The IEOI will be made available on receipt of payment of a non-refundable fee of Rs 5 lakh plus any applicable Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The last date to purchase the IEOI is September 12 and the date of submission of bid documents is September 16.

“It is clarified that merely purchasing the IEOI does not entitle any person to bid,” it said while asserting that those satisfying the eligibility requirements will only be able to bid.

According to the eligibility requirements laid down by BCCI, an entity anywhere in the world which satisfies the requirements as on the date of this IEOI (or such other specific date as is specified in this IEOI in relation to any individual criteria) are eligible to participate in the process and to submit bids.

It said that a bid may only be submitted either by the person/entity which has purchased a copy of this IEOI upon payment of the IEOI fee; or any person/entity which is in the same Group as such person/entity.

“The IEOI fee paid by the bidder (whether successful or unsuccessful) shall not be refunded or adjusted against any other payment obligation of the bidder in any circumstances,” it said.

The average turnover of each bidder for the last three years must be at least Rs 300 crore as per the last three audited accounts, or, the average net worth of each bidder for the last three years must be at least Rs 300 crore as per the last three audited accounts.

Each bidder must be a ‘Fit and Proper Person’.

“In order to determine whether a Person is a Fit and Proper Person, the BCCI may take into account any factor, as may be deemed fit by the BCCI, including without limitation any one or more of the following criteria: (i) not having been convicted by a court of a criminal offence or offences involving moral turpitude, economic offence or fraud; (ii) not having any conflict of interest as per the BCCI Conflict of Interest Rules; (iii) absence of conviction for any offence punishable with imprisonment for 2 (two) years or more in any jurisdiction; (iv) absence of categorisation as a wilful defaulter by the Reserve Bank of India; and/or (v) a Person having integrity and reputation; and the BCCI reserves the right to reject any bid from any bidder which in the BCCI’s opinion and at its sole and absolute discretion does not satisfy this criteria,” it said.

Bidder, including any of its group companies should not be engaged in online money gaming, betting or gambling services or similar services in India or anywhere in the world, it clarified.

It stated that a bidder should not provide any online money gaming, betting or gambling services or similar services to any person in India and should not have any investment or ownership interest in any person engaged in betting or gambling services in India.

“To clarify, a bidder, including any of its Group companies, engaged in any activities/business that is prohibited under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 is not permitted to submit a bid,” it said.

Also, a bidder, including any of its Group companies, should not be directly or indirectly engaged in the business of crypto trading or crypto exchange or crypto token or any business of similar nature.

Apart from the above, a bidder operating or engaged in multiple brand/product categories, one of which falls under either the Blocked Brand Categories or Prohibited Brand Categories, shall not be permitted to submit a bid in respect of such Blocked Brand Categories or Prohibited Brand Categories.

“However, the bidder may submit a bid in respect of any other Brand Category that does not fall under either the Blocked Brand Categories or Prohibited Brand Categories.

“Bidders are prohibited from submitting bids through surrogate brands. Surrogate branding refers to any attempt to indirectly submit a bid on behalf of a different entity or Person through the use of a different entity or person. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of different names, brands, identity or logos,” it said.

The brand categories blocked on account of the BCCI having existing sponsors within them, are, Athleisure and Sportswear Manufacturer; Banks, Banking & Financial Service and Non-Banking Financial Companies; Non-Alcoholic Cold Beverages; Fans, Mixer Grinders and Safety Locks; and Insurance.

“Do note that, no bidder, except the relevant existing sponsor of the BCCI in the said Brand Categories, may bid for the said Brand Categories listed above,” it said.

The Brand Categories prohibited by BCCI include alcohol products, betting or gambling services, cryptocurrency, online money gaming or any such activities prohibited under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, tobacco and one which is likely to offend public morals such as, including but not limited to, pornography.