New sponsor for New Zealand team

National Bank, New Zealand Cricket's (NZC) main sponsorship partner, will now also sponsor the New Zealand cricket team. National Bank has previously been associated with international series played in New Zealand, while the team was named after another sponsor, TelstraClear.

TelstraClear's sponsorship agreement ends on September 30, at which point National Bank will take over. The telecommunications company will not be totally lost to NZC, however, as it will remain the official supplier of NZC's telecommunications.

Martin Snedden, chief executive of NZC, said today that the sponsorship was a vote of confidence in cricket in New Zealand, since it built on the four-year sponsorship of home international series. "The Black Caps sponsorship is long term and demonstrates the Bank's belief in NZC and the Black Caps," he said.

In an unusual step, the Bank has not taken up naming rights for the side, and New Zealand will be simply known as the Black Caps. The Bank will also continue to sponsor New Zealand's home international series.

Cynthia Brophy, the Bank's general manager of corporate affairs, said that it had enjoyed an excellent profile from its sponsorship and was proud to consolidate its investment in cricket through the sponsorship of the Black Caps. Brophy said: "We recognise the importance of cricket to New Zealanders and see sponsorship as a sound opportunity to be associated with sport."