India Likely to Play Asia Cup Without Lead Sponsor After Dream 11 Withdrawal

India is expected to participate in the upcoming Asia Cup without a lead team sponsor after Dream 11 withdrew from its contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) last month. The BCCI has begun the process of securing a new sponsor by issuing an invitation for expression of interest, with the deadline to submit bids set for September 16, just days after the tournament’s start on September 9.

Dream 11’s withdrawal came in response to the Indian government passing the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming bill, which banned real-money gaming—the core business of Dream 11. Although the company’s contract with the BCCI was valid until 2026 and worth about USD 44 million (approximately INR 358 crore), the contract contained an exit clause allowing termination due to such regulatory changes.

This is not the first time the BCCI has faced the challenge of finding a replacement sponsor mid-term. In 2019, the mobile company OPPO exited its contract three years early, and educational technology company Byju’s stepped in to fill the gap before Dream 11 secured the sponsorship in 2023 with a three-year deal.

The BCCI’s invitation for new sponsors explicitly excludes categories such as alcohol brands, betting or gambling services, cryptocurrency, online money gaming, tobacco products, or any products or services deemed offensive to public morals, including pornography, from bidding.

For the Asia Cup, the Indian cricket team is set to leave for the United Arab Emirates on September 4. India is placed in Group A alongside Oman, Pakistan, and the UAE, with scheduled matches against the UAE and Pakistan in Dubai on September 10 and 14, respectively, and versus Oman in Abu Dhabi on September 19. The top two teams from Group A and Group B will proceed to the Super Four stage, culminating in the final on September 28.