In search of lead sponsor, BCCI borrows from English football

Indian board introduces 'Fit and Proper Person' clause; deadline for submission Sept 16, which means India are unlikely to sport any lead brand logo in Asia Cup

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN @Rajgir

THE Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have taken a leaf out of English football by inserting a new clause called the 'Fit and Proper Person' to be eligible to bid for lead sponsor rights of the national team. In 2004, English football pieced together a law to ensure that individuals wanting to own a club, pass that test. It became law to prevent persons who aren't 'fit' and 'proper' from running football clubs, institutions in their own right (it's since been renamed the Owners' and Directors' Test).

In Part C of Annexure B of the 'eligibility requirements', published today by the Board, 'each bidder must be a fit and proper person'. The world's richest cricket board 'may take into account any factor, as may be deemed fit by the BCCI, including without limitations any one or more of the following criteria'.