NEW DELHI: Kings XI Punjab co-owner Ness Wadia on Tuesday called for a gradual end to Chinese sponsorship in the Indian Premier League, amid escalating tensions between the two countries owing to the violent clash in eastern Ladakh earlier this month.
“We should do it (sever ties with Chinese sponsors in IPL) for the sake of the nation. Country comes first, money is secondary. And it is the Indian Premier League, not the Chinese Premier League. It should lead by example and show the way,” Wadia told PTI on Tuesday.
Chinese smartphone maker Vivo pays the BCCI Rs 4.4 billion annually as IPL title sponsor rights fees in a five-year deal that runs till 2022.
Other companies involved in the IPL – Paytm, Swiggy, Dream 11 – have Chinese investments.
Not just the IPL, the teams too attract Chinese sponsorship. While Wadia made his stance clear, other teams, including Chennai Super Kings, have said they would go with whatever the government decides.
Asked about the Chinese sponsorship in IPL teams, Wadia told PTI: “The teams too should be given time to replace their Chinese sponsors. As I said, there are enough Indian companies which can replace them.”
