Standard Bank confirmed its association with Cricket South Africa on Wednesday in a deal that will see it "become the headline sponsor of the Proteas in all three formats of the game," according to SPORT24. Standard Bank will be the official sponsor of the Proteas for the next four years "across all three formats of the game, enjoying the exclusive rights associated with the National Team." The Standard Bank Proteas "will be seen in action for the first time" when the team plays a "triangular limited overs series in the Caribbean against the West Indies and Australia next month" (SPORT24, 5/18). ESPN's Firdose Moonda reported the new sponsor "is not new to cricket." Standard Bank was previously one of the "biggest backers of the game and had a 14-year period" as the title sponsor of the ODI and T20 team (then called Pro20 in South Africa) which ended in '11. However, that year the bank cut ties with "all sports sponsorships including that of two of the country's most popular football clubs, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates." With the global economy "deep in recession at the time," Standard Bank said it had to "reassess the costs of these sponsorships and the benefits for Standard Bank in the light of changed business needs." The "up-turn in world finances since then" has put Standard Bank in a position to resume its sports affiliations (ESPN, 5/18).
