Cricket Namibia gets extended sponsorship deal

Cricket Namibia and mobile operator MTC have extended their sponsorship deal with a three-year agreement that will fetch the board an annual N$2.5 million (US$ 332,153).

The deal will cover the costs of the Namibian senior team participating in the amateur tournament organized by Cricket South Africa, development of grassroots cricket in the country, infrastructure development, the national First & Premier leagues, the national team coach and payments to the national players.

Cricket Namibia president Francois Erasmus said MTC had played a key role in the development of the game in the Associate country over the past six years. "This has lifted the standard and profile of the game in Namibia through the ever-increasing number of players participating in cricket throughout the country," he said. "Club cricket has also been a major benefactor and, as proof of this, there will be four additional teams playing the national cricket leagues during 2009-10."

Namibia featured in the 2003 World Cup but with little success. They also finished eighth in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers held in April this year, which should have been enough to secure them a place in the 2009-10 Intercontinental Cup. However, at an ICC development committee meeting the following month, the competition was restructured and Namibia, who finished runners-up in the 2007-08 event, were demoted to a four-team second division known as the Intercontinental Shield.