Shorts: ECB, Wigan, Norwich
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced it will host a bilateral cricket against Zimbabwe for the first time since 2003 following an agreement to play a men’s Test match in May 2025.
England men will play Zimbabwe in a four-day Test from 28th to 31st May 2025, at a venue to be confirmed, and follows discussions between the ECB and Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) ‘to forge closer relations.’
Richard Gould, Chief Executive Officer of the ECB, said, “We are delighted to be able to host Zimbabwe for a Men’s Test match for the first time in two decades.
“Zimbabwe has a proud cricket history and have produced world-class players and coaches who have enriched the game across the world.
“We are committed to developing a closer relationship with Zimbabwe Cricket and the announcement of this Test against our England Men’s team is a step in that ambition.
“This summer’s Ashes series showcased all that is great about Test cricket and, while we must be mindful of the demands of world cricket’s schedule, we also want to help grow Test cricket and find opportunities to play more nations where we can.”
Givemore Makoni, Managing Director of Zimbabwe Cricket, expressed, “We are absolutely delighted to be playing bilateral cricket in England for the first time in over two decades after we agreed to play a Test match in May 2025.
“The significance and magnitude of this tour cannot be over-emphasised, and I would like to say a huge thank you to the ECB for committing to the resumption of cricketing relations between our countries that date back to the introduction of the game in Zimbabwe in the 1890s.
“The experience of playing a Test match against a top team like England is massive for the current generation of our players, coming at a time when our game as a whole is on an upward trajectory.
“This will be a historic tour for everyone involved with cricket in Zimbabwe and we are already looking forward to some exciting action on the field of play.”
EFL League One football club Wigan Athletic has partnered with Christophe Duchamp.
The deal sees the watch brand become the Lactic’s official watch partner for the 2023/24 campaign.
As part of the agreement, Christophe Duchamp will also sponsor the club’s ‘Player of the Month Award’, as well as providing Wigan supporters with exclusive offers throughout the course of the 2023/24 season.
Greg Coar, Head of Commercial at Wigan Athletic, said, “Welcome to Christophe Duchamp as official watch partner. We are proud to provide a platform for the brand to increase their exposure and develop their audience.
Providing a luxury watch as the prize for the Player of the Month is the perfect reward for the players’ performances. The ability to offer the same premium watches to our fans, at a discounted and affordable price, was a vital factor in the deal.”
Arne Decaestecker, Sales Director at Christophe Duchamp, added, “We are thrilled to announce that Christophe Duchamp has entered an exciting partnership with Wigan Athletic. This collaboration brings together the elegance and precision of our watch brand with the passion and energy of one of the most dynamic football clubs, the Latics!
“Just as every moment on the field is crucial, our timepieces embody the essence of capturing each second with utmost precision and style. We look forward to a successful journey with Wigan Athletic, united by a commitment to excellence and a shared pursuit of perfect timing.”
EFL Championship football club Norwich City has announced a partnership with Off The Pitch.
Through partnership, the football business analytics platform will offer Norwich City ‘comprehensive analytics, including financial data on over 265 football clubs, an M&A (Merger and Acquisitions) Tracker, transfer market insights and a player valuation tool.’
Anthony Richens, Finance Director at Norwich City, said, “We are very excited to collaborate with Off The Pitch as this gives us the opportunity to optimise our analytical approach to a new level. Off The Pitch has unparalleled expertise in football business analytics, which makes them ideal for us to work with.”
Mads Meisner Christensen, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Off The Pitch, added, “It’s a privilege to closely align with Norwich City, a club with a storied past and an ambitious vision for the future.
“Norwich City embodies a lot of the same values as Off The Pitch – transparency, a data-driven approach, and not least, management with an innovative mindset.”
EFL Championship football club Hull City has announced Savoy Autocentres as partners for the 2023/24 season.
Tigers forward Allahyar Sayyadmanesh has been sponsored by Savoy Autocentres since the company first became a silver partner of the club in February 2022, and that sponsorship has continued ever since.
Phil Dayes, Commercial Sales Manager at Hull City, said, “It’s been a real pleasure to work with Savoy Autocentres since they originally came on board, and we look forward to seeing how the partnership progresses this season.”
Paul Palmer, Managing Director at Savoy Autocentres, added, “We have thoroughly enjoyed our working relationship with Hull City so far and it was therefore a no-brainer to renew our silver partnership for the new season.”
EFL League One football club Reading has announced a new partnership deal with Carabao which will see the energy drinks brand become the official sports drink partner of the Royals.
The Thai beverage brand, that is headquartered in the UK, will see its brand visible on matchdays at the Select Car Leasing Stadium and also offer ‘various competitions and giveaways.’
John Luck, Chief Marketing Officer of Intercarabao, commented, “Carabao is delighted to be partnering with Reading FC again, this time with our new sports drink, Carabao Sport. We hope our drinks contribute to an exciting season for the Royals and propel both players and fans back into the Championship.”
Tim Kilpatrick, Head of Commercial at Reading FC, added, “We enjoyed an excellent relationship with Carabao which has continued to this day, so it is fantastic that we are able to join forces once again. Our performance staff were excited by the latest product range so we look forward to helping each other in reaching our objectives for the coming season.”
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