CAB ropes in sponsors for Eden Gardens facility upgrade

The CAB has already invested in upgradation of the iconic stadium by installing a new giant video screen, a scoreboard and ground covers and is eyeing to better the facilities further.

Sourav Ganguly was appointed President of the Cricket Association of Bengal in September 2015.

In order to upgrade facilities at the Eden Gardens and promote cricket in the state in a bigger way, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) on Wednesday roped in five sponsors in multi-year deals generating around Rs 5 crore per year.

The CAB has already invested in upgradation of the iconic stadium by installing a new giant video screen, a scoreboard and ground covers and is eyeing to better the facilities further by using the funds generated through deals with IDBI Federal Insurance Private Ltd, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, Bandhan Bank and BMA Stainless Ltd, and Parampara Ayurveda.

The duration of the deals varies from sponsor to sponsor.

CAB president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly said funds would be utilised for the betterment of facilities at first class level. “It is easy to sell the Dhonis and Kohlis but it is difficult to support first class cricket,” said Ganguly at a function here. “Infrastructure development is the most important aspect and we will also work in this area.”

Ganguly informed that the deals were finalised a few months back. “We had finalised the deals three-four months ago but had to hold the event because of ambush marketing clauses in the World T20 and the Indian Premier League (IPL).”