TOWER named as sponsor of Super Challenge II

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) today announced a significant sponsorship agreement with TOWER for the naming rights of Super Challenge II, the June one-day international series between Australia and Pakistan in Melbourne and Brisbane.

The agreement sees TOWER, a financial services company, join the ACB's impressive portfolio of commercial partners and gain on-ground signage rights, branding on the Australian team's playing and training apparel and top-level corporate entertainment.

ACB Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said the TOWER announcement was a key indicator of cricket's healthy position.

"In a competitive sports sponsorship market, it is pleasing that Australian cricket has attracted another corporate partner prepared to invest in the sport," Mr Sutherland said.

"We are thrilled that TOWER has committed its association with Super Challenge II, an exciting and innovative series of international cricket that will whet the appetite of cricket fans in Australia and around the world," he added.

TOWER Group Managing Director James Boonzaier expressed delight at being associated with Australia's World Champion cricket team.

"With some 70 per cent of our business now in Australia, TOWER has become very much an Australian business. Australia is a big part of our future and we look forward to a successful partnership with Australian cricket in this exciting event," Mr Boonzaier said.

"TOWER Super Challenge II provides an ideal vehicle for the promotion of the TOWER brand, as a significant provider of superannuation and investment products.

"While TOWER has grown ten-fold since our entry into the Australian market 12 years ago, awareness of the TOWER name, products and service remains an important competitive challenge for us. TOWER Super Challenge II will significantly assist in increasing awareness of the TOWER brand," he said.

The announcement of TOWER Super Challenge II comes amid Australian cricket's celebrations after being crowned the World Team of the Year at the recent Laureus Sports Awards in Monaco.

"Australian cricket is celebrating the Australian team's award, but we cannot bask in the sun for too long. The team has a huge challenge ahead in trying to uphold its World Champion status against Pakistan, a formidable opponent in the one-day international game," Mr Sutherland said.

TOWER Super Challenge II will take place under the roof at Melbourne's Colonial Stadium on 12 and 15 June and at The Gabba in Brisbane on 19 June.

The Australia/Pakistan head-to-head record suggests the series will be closely contested. From the 60 one-day internationals played between the two nations, Australia has won 33 and lost 24, with one tie and two matches finishing without a result.

Most recently, the two sides met in the final of the 2001 tri-angular series in the United Kingdom that also involved England. Pakistan was also Australia's opposition in the final of the 1999 Word Cup at Lord's, which Australia won.

Pakistan will arrive on Australian shores in early June in good form. Waqar Younis' team dominated in the three game one-day international series against New Zealand in April, winning it 3-0. Pakistan also won the recent Test against New Zealand in Lahore by an innings and 324 runs.

Tickets for TOWER Super Challenge II are available through Ticketmaster7 - phone 1300 13 61 22.