International sponsors stay away from Bangladesh

Bangladesh are unlikely to have a sponsor for their tour of Australia, after talks between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the airline Emirates broke down.

Emirates were only approached earlier this week with a view to them undertaking a last-minute deal, but it is believed that they felt unable to complete negotiations in such a short time.

Mobil, who had been national sponsors, withdrew following the disastrous tour of South Africa at the end of 2002, and other sponsors are thought to have been deterred by the team's poor run of form. Standard Chartered, however, will sponsor the team for the home series against England later this year.

But Emirates are interested in sponsoring the National Cricket League, and an offer has already been put to the BCB. The deal is thought to be for one year only, with the option of extending it to five years if successful.