WSG bags BCCI's ground, title rights for Rs 173cr

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sold the ground and title naming rights for 55 test matches and one day internationals (ODIs) to Singapore-based World Sport Group (WSG).

WSG, part of the Global Cricket Corporation, outbid competitors Nimbus and Percept to bag the rights for Rs 173.25 crore for a period of 31 months beginning September 1, 2007. This translates into Rs 3.15 crore a match till March 2010.

"There will be 55 matches covered by the bid. The winning bid is three times over the last contracted bid which was Rs one crore per match," said Lalit Modi, vice president and marketing commitee chief, BCCI.

Venu Nair, chief executive, WSG South Asia said that with these rights, the group would gain naming rights to 12 international series that would involve Australia, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

The deadline for submitting the bid ended at 12 noon today after, which they were opened in front of the bidders and the members of BCCI's marketing committee. "The WSG consortium has won the rights from among four bidders including 21st Century Media, which was disqualified for not having submitted all the necessary documents," Modi said.

He added that that the bids for the other rights, including those for the twenty20 matches to be played in India and domestic cricket matches, were still under negotiation.