The ICC's Elite Panel of Umpires and Match Referees is to be sponsored by Emirates Airline thanks to a new business partnership forged between world cricket's governing body and the Dubai-based international airline.

Announcing the agreement in London today, ICC Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed said: "This is a significant and substantial commercial partnership and I am delighted to welcome Emirates as an official ICC business partner. In a difficult market for sponsorship and media rights, this agreement represents excellent value to the game and demonstrates the enduring appeal of international cricket to the corporate world."

Umpires Shepherd and Bucknor with Referee Procter at the Emirates launch Photo © ICC

Maurice Flanagan, Emirates Group Managing Director, said: "Emirates has been a supporter of cricket since it was official airline for the 1999 ICC World Cup and sponsor of the victorious Australian team. We are very pleased that our association with the game at the highest level has been renewed in partnership with the ICC and will help to play such a significant role with its panels of umpires and referees. We look forward to a productive relationship that will deliver real benefits for both organisations in the months and years ahead."

The three-year multi-million dollar sponsorship agreement grants Emirates naming rights for the international panels of umpires and referees, and use of the title as the Official Airline of the ICC. Emirates will be the official carrier for all ICC travel, where direct flights are available to the required destination.

In addition, the eight members of the Elite Umpires panel and the five ICC Match Referees will wear Emirates branded clothing during all Test and One Day International matches.

Umpires Shepherd and Bucknor with Referee Procter Photo © ICC

The `Fly Emirates' logos will appear on the right chest and the back of umpires' shirts and jackets. This will guarantee visibility and media exposure to many millions of cricket watchers around the world.

The new sponsorship will be given a high profile debut when umpires David Shepherd and Steve Bucknor officiate in the final of the NatWest series between England and India at Lord's on Saturday (13th July).

The first appearance of the new sponsorship in a Test match will also be at Lord's, when England face India in the first npower Test, beginning on 25th July. ICC Elite Panel umpires for that match will be Rudi Koertzen and Russell Tiffin, with Clive Lloyd as Match Referee.

Umpires Shepherd and Bucknor with Referee Procter Photo © ICC

Sponsorship income from the Emirates agreement will be used to fund the day-to-day operation of the new, full time system of umpires and referees. This includes salaries, travel, training and administration for 13 full time employees, dedicated ICC support staff and the operation of the supplementary panels of officials. This funding will reduce the additional financial burden that has been borne entirely by the ICC and member countries since early 2000

Media note: Emirates' sponsorship is a successor to that of National Grid, who supported the original move to independent ICC match officials in 1994 - 2000.

Notes to editors:

Cricket is part of a top class portfolio of sports sponsorships that has been developed by Emirates. This includes the world's richest horse race, the Dubai World Cup, as well as international rugby sevens, tennis, golf and English Premiership football through its four-year sponsorship of Chelsea Football Club.

Earlier this year Emirates maintained its commitment to thoroughbred horse racing with a multi-million US dollar sponsorship of Godolphin, the private racing stable of the Maktoum family, providing Emirates with top flight sponsorship exposure at racetracks around the world.

Launched in 1985, Emirates is one of the world's fastest-growing airlines, with 40 ultra-modern aircraft linking its home base of Dubai with 58 cities in 41 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Far East, Asia and Australia. By 2010, its fleet will have tripled to 100 jets carrying 25 million people a year. It has won 200-plus awards for service.

Emirates has already added new routes to Casablanca and Khartoum this year and now flies to. Further services are being added this year to Perth, Mauritius and Osaka, which are due to commence in August, September and October respectively.

Emirates currently operates 46 return flights a week between the UK and Dubai, with three departures every day from London Heathrow, one daily from Birmingham and Manchester, and 11 services a week from London Gatwick – which will itself operate twice a day from September 1.

More information on Emirates can be found at www.emirates.com.

Media contact:

Mark Harrison
ICC Communications Manager
Tel: + 44 (0) 207 266 7935
Mob: + 44 (0) 787 944 1891
Email: mark.harrison@icc-cricket.com

Emirates Airline Contact:
Bell Pottinger Public Relations
Sara Jones/ James Cornelius
Tel: 0207 861 2424
Email: sjones/jcornelius@bell-pottinger.co.uk

© ICC