BCCI invites for lead sponsorship rights; online gaming, betting companies prohibited from bidding

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has put out an open invitation from bidders interested in acquiring the lead sponsorship rights for its national teams. This comes following the ban on Dream11 post the prohibition of real money gaming in India, passed recently in the Parliament. The successful bidder will be eligible to be the lead sponsor of both the India Men and Women's team for the term, which is yet to be specified by the BCCI. 

However, the BCCI has set strict checkpoints and criterion for bidders who are willing to obtain an Invitation for Expression of Interest (IEOI). Brands linked to the same industry as current sponsors will not be eligible to bid. Moreover, any betting brand, online gaming provider, alcohol companies, tobacco companies, pornography companies and cryptocurrency companies have been prohibited to apply for a bid.

According to a release on BCCI's official website dated Tuesday, September 2, 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: 

1. not having been convicted by a court of a criminal offence or offences involving moral turpitude, economic offence or fraud;
2. not having any conflict of interest as per the BCCI Conflict of Interest Rules;
3. absence of conviction for any offence punishable with imprisonment for 2 (two) years or more in any jurisdiction;
4. absence of categorization as a wilful defaulter by the Reserve Bank of India; and/or
5. 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 these criteria.

The following list of Brand Categories are not permitted under the IEOI Prohibited Brand Categories:

• 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.

India to not have a lead sponsor for Asia Cup 2025

Apart from the companies or brands associated aforementioned thereto, interested parties can obtain the IEOI by September 12, 2025, which clearly hints that India will enter the Asia Cup 2025 without a lead sponsor. The further official processes of application will have to be completed on or before September 16, and if all goes through, the Indian team might onboard a sponsor just in time ahead of the ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025, which commences September 30.