England and Wales Cricket Board to lose Investec as sponsors

As per the recent reports in the BBC, investment company Investec is all set to end its sponsorship of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Investec has been associated with the English cricket more close to half a decade. The sponsorship deal was signed back in 2011. As per the deal, Investec was expected to be the sponsor of the England cricket team for a tenure of 10 years from 2011. However, the investment company has now chosen to end the contract midway.

The premature end to the deal sees it being called off as early as 6 years prior than the expected 2021-22 season. The last two series for Investec as the chief sponsor of the England team will be against South Africa and West Indies. Both South Africa and West Indies are expected to play in England in this English summer. Back in 2011, a 40 million pound deal was signed between the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Investec.

The key reason given by the investment company for breaking the deal clause is that they are now keen on exploring new and other marketing opportunities present. The end in the deal now sees ECB in a position wherein they will have to look out for another title sponsor. England are due to host two big home series against two of the top most cricketing nations in the next two English summers. India will be touring the English soil in 2018 and Australia will set foot on the English land in 2019 for the Ashes.

There is no news about the new sponsors or the look out by the ECB for the new sponsors as of now. As far as on-field action is concerned, the team in currently in India where they are due to play 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is. Recently, they faced a severe 0-4 drubbing at the hands of Virat Kohli-led Indian side in the 5 match Test series.