KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) - Digicel announced yesterday that it has secured sponsorship of the West Indies cricket team.
Digicel will become the official sponsor of the West Indies Test and ODI (One-Day International) teams; event sponsors for the Home Test and ODI Series; and the official mobile and communications provider of the WICB.
"Digicel's sponsorship of the West Indies cricket team not only demonstrates the success of Digicel across the Caribbean region, but also represents a major five-year commitment to West Indies cricket," Digicel announced in a release yesterday.
"With new programmes in place to improve the team's current and future performance, Digicel's long-term investment is designed to help return Caribbean cricket to its past glory," the release said.
"It's the first ever home and away sponsorship secured by the WICB and incorporates unprecedented incentives to raise players' performances and places an additional US$1 million into the game's development through Digicel's sponsorship of select Junior teams.
"Digicel is also sponsoring the Under-15 and Under-17 teams as part of the largest deal ever done with the West Indies cricket board," the release stated.
Speaking at the announcement in London yesterday, attended by members of the West Indies team, Teddy Griffith, president of the WICB, said: "Our partnership with Digicel represents a new era for the sponsorship of West Indies cricket.
"Digicel's dynamic, innovative, forward-thinking attitude, which has transformed in under three years the telecommunications market in the Caribbean, will no doubt have the same impact on West Indies cricket. Change is inevitable and we look forward to a long and rewarding partnership with Digicel," Griffith said.
"Digicel takes enormous pride in becoming the official main sponsor of the West Indies Cricket team," said Denis O'Brien, chairman of Digicel Group.
O'Brien added: "We are delighted to make available this substantial sponsorship package to West Indies cricket. We will add new energy into West Indies Cricket through our incentives and youth programmes.
"This will encourage more great performances and foster future cricket legends. Digicel will also be looking at ways to make the game more interactive using their technology and an even more enjoyable experience for the millions of West Indies fans. We are excited about the future of cricket in the Caribbean," O'Brien added.
