Emirates Airlines have become the new Team sponsor of Indian Premier League club Deccan Chargers for the upcoming 2012 DLF IPL season. The international airline have signed a three-year deal with the Hyderabad-based club, who last won the competition back in 2009.
Emirates have strong ties with India, having 185 weekly flights there from Dubai, given the strong contingent of the South Asian community living in the UAE.
“We are honoured to be joining forces with the Deccan Chargers and partnering with the team for the next three IPL campaigns,” said Orhan Abbas, Emirates’ Vice President India and Nepal, at a press conference in Hyderabad to announce the agreement.
“India is a vital market for Emirates and we recognise the huge role it has played in our development, from the employees who make up almost 25% our workforce to the millions of Indian passengers who book with us every year.”
“Through this sponsorship we have the chance to connect with the people who we connect to 122 destinations and show our ongoing commitment to a nation which Emirates has been serving since we began operating in 1985,” added Orhan Abbas. “It is also a tremendous opportunity for us to further strengthen our support of a sport which the people of India follow with renowned passion. The IPL has rapidly established itself as a spectacle of sport and entertainment followed by billions around the globe and will provide Emirates a platform to consolidate our position as a world force in sports sponsorship.”
The Deccan Chargers – starting their title challenge against the Chennai Superkings in Vizag on 7th April – will feature a host of household names, including Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, who will captain the side, South African stars JP Duminy and Dale Steyn.
The event in Hyderabad was attended by vice-captain Cameron White, head coach Darren Lehmann and their fellow Australian Daniel Harris, as well as Indian stars Parthiv Patel, Shikhar Dhawan, Amit Mishra and Manpreet Gony, where they unveiled the 2012 home kit.
“We are proud to have a leading global brand like Emirates as our Team Sponsor for the next three seasons of the IPL. We are confident this association with Emirates will be fruitful. With an exciting new squad and sponsor, we look forward to the tournament and repeating our winning performance in DLF IPL 2012,” said Deccan Chargers co-owner Ms Gayatri Reddy.
